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CN110
Aqqik Kol and alpine grassland
Location China (mainland), Xinjiang
Central coordinates 88o 25.00' East  37o 5.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A3
Area 62,000 ha
Altitude 4,250 m
Year of IBA assessment 2009





Site description Aqqik Kol is a large high-altitude salt lake with an area of 36,000-38,000 ha, which is located between the Kunlun Shan and Altun Shan mountains. The lake is fed by snowmelt and glaciers, and there are freshwater streams and marshes in the vicinity.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis unknown  2008  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Aerjinshan Nature Reserve 4,500,000 protected area contains site 62,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Wetlands (inland)   -
Grassland   -

Other biodiversity Nationally protected animals include Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Panthra uncia, Ursus arctos, Equus kiang, Ovis ammon, Marmota himalayana, Pantholops hodgsoni, and Bos mutus.

Conservation response Established as a nature reserve in 1983, and upgraded to a national nature reserve in 1985.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Aqqik Kol and alpine grassland. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 18/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife