Zharsor-Urkash Lake System. 12/07/09; Kostanay Oblast; 41,250 ha; 51°22'N 062°48'E. A system of approximately 14 lakes characteristic of the arid steppe province in northern Kazakhstan. Consisting of both saline and freshwater permanent or intermittent lakes and wet marsh habitat, the site is a regular stopping site of the Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) and habitat for 16 threatened bird species. It supports appreciable numbers of White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) and Common Crane (Grus grus), as well as Little Stints (Calidris minuta) and Curlew Sandpipers (C. ferruginea) along shorelines. It is an important migratory stopover for a large number of waterbirds dominated by Anseriformes and Limicolae and nesting habitat for 79 species. Mammals are represented by 27 species, including the Critically Endangered Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica). Land use at the site includes hayfields, pasture, small-scale salt production, and limited hunting. Steppe fires are a threat to the ecological character of the lakes. The site is included in the West/Central Asian Site Network for Siberian Cranes and other waterbirds, under the Bonn Convention. Ramsar site no. 1873. Most recent RIS information: 2009.