The Zarafshan National Nature Park was established in 1975. The national park is located in the south-eastern part of the Samarkand region on the territory of the Dzhambay and Bulungur districts and consists of two separate sections (upper and lower) located along the Zarafshan River. This natural landmark stretches for 47 kilometers along the Zarafshan River. The territory begins at the Chapan-Ata Heights 8 km from Samarkand and stretches along the right bank of the Zarafshan River upstream to the Pervomayskaya Dam. The total area of ​​the national park is 2426.4 hectares and is divided into 3 zones: a recreational zone, a protected zone and a zone for economic activity.

The main goal of the park's creation was to preserve the unique flora in its untouched form. Despite the small territory, in addition to tugai, there are also fruit trees, willow, poplar, tamarisk, sea buckthorn, reed, licorice, broom, oleaster and much more. The Zarafshan Reserve is the only place where sea buckthorn grows not in the mountains, but on the plain.

The park's fauna is also rich, with over 80 species of insects, over 20 species of mollusks, and over 240 species of vertebrates. The permanent residents are the steppe tortoise, sand boa, lake frog, and arrow snake. There are 207 species of birds and 24 species of mammals, including porcupines, foxes, corsac foxes, muskrats, steppe cats, and weasels. In the 2000s, an attempt was made to introduce Bukhara deer to the reserve.