The sacred wealth of Kazakhs bequeathed by their ancestors is the endless steppe between Altai and Atyrau, Saryarka and Alatau. The territory occupying over fourteen thousand kilometers is decorated with mountains and forests, rivers and lakes. Here great history comes to life and eternity comes into contact with the present day, admiring the beauty of pristine places, sung in legends and surprising with their riddles and secrets. Want to meet them? Then - let's go!
Open Air Museum - West Kazakhstan
If we pay attention to the west of Kazakhstan, then only in Mangystau alone we will find countless places that attract the eye with their beauty and secrets that keep these places.
Over a hundred natural and archaeological sites can be found here. One of them is the Torysh plain, which consists of thousands of spherical stones. The radius of some of them sometimes reaches three meters. Some of them look like extraterrestrial unusual ships, like from a science fiction movie, others resemble giant mushrooms.
Numerous tourists of the Mangistau region are attracted by another mysterious place - Bozzhyra, unusual and mysterious. There is no grass here, and the landscape is like the surface of the moon. There are many mosques, historical and cultural sites that are attractive for both tourists and explorers.
The Tamshaly gorge is also wonderful, where a waterfall breaks down from a high sheer cliff with crystal splashes! A person who finds himself in these places has a heartbeat from the pristine beauty of the nature of this unique land.
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Altai - the cradle of civilization
In the eastern part of Kazakhstan, the largest national park is located - Katon-Karagay State National Natural Park, which has become one of two Kazakhstani parks included in the list of specially protected heritage of UNESCO. Its area is 643 477 hectares. 40% of its territory is covered by forests. There is also a steppe, mountains, rocks, waterfalls, rivers and lakes.
A favorite place for tourists in Katon-Karagai is Rakhmanovskiye Kluchi. A healing warm spring located on the shores of Lake Arasan, in a small tectonic lowland of the Southern Altai, at an altitude of 1750 meters above sea level, surrounded by high mountains and dense forest. The temperature of the water coming from deep tectonic fractures is 35–42 ° С. As scientists have found out, the underground waters of the source are rich in medicinal radon and are useful for joints, spine, nerve endings and skin.
Markakol National Reserve is also one of the most picturesque places in the eastern region. Lake Markakol is the pearl of this region. It is located at an altitude of 1447 meters above sea level, surrounded by a bewitching natural necklace. It is located in a mountainous area and is surrounded on all sides by dense forests. On one side of the lake there is a steep cliff, some places of which are covered with green vegetation.
You don't have to go into space to see the red planet. There are also fiery landscapes of Mars in East Kazakhstan. We are talking about the legendary Kiin-Kerish hills, which are popularly called "Fiery Hill", "City of Spirits" or a piece of Mars on Earth. The hot climate prevailing here, combined with the almost complete absence of water, creates a fantastically picturesque and mystical atmosphere. In the Kiin-Kerish tract, rare and endangered species of flora and fauna have been preserved. And isn't it tempting to see this beauty? Come! You will not regret!
Semirechye - heaven on earth
The nature of Zhetysu, praised by poets and writers, which inspired artists like a magnet, attracts tourists from all over the world with its amazing beauty. Snowy peaks, evergreen forests, endless dunes and sands delight both experienced travelers and those who came here for the first time.
This region is famous not only for its picturesque nature, but also for the wealth of ancient historical monuments. One of them, the Besshatyr Kurgan, still keeps the unsolved secrets of the centuries. The arrangement of the stones and their appearance resemble the famous monument of world architecture - Stonehenge.
The most amazing place in the Altyn Emel park with rich flora and fauna is the singing dune Aigaykum. It is located between the mountains Big and Small Kalkan, its height is 150 meters, its length reaches 3 kilometers. This sand dune occasionally emits a sound that is heard for several kilometers and actively affects the vibration of the earth.
Here is also the Burkhan-Bulak waterfall, which is the second highest in Central Asia. The total height of the waterfall is 168 meters.
Picturesque lakes Kolsai and Kaiyndy have become one of the favorite places for ecotourists and the largest tourist attraction in Kazakhstan.
The Big Almaty Lake is a real miracle of nature, which has become a favorite vacation spot for domestic and foreign tourists, along with Chimbulak, Medeu, and the Sharyn tract. It is located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level. Depending on the seasons, the lake changes its color from turquoise blue to emerald.
Another invaluable pearl of the Semirechye is Lake Alakol, the water in which is similar in composition to the sea and includes almost the entire periodic table (except for iodine), which contributes to the treatment of many diseases. It is on the Alakol lakes that hundreds of thousands of birds find peace and rest after exhausting flights.
Saryarka - the great steppe
The wide endless steppe, which occupies a significant part of Kazakhstan, is popularly called Saryarka. The nature here is extremely picturesque. Transparent rivers, wide lakes, endless steppes and dense green forests give a person peace, harmony and warmth.
One of the most beautiful lakes in Kazakhstan is Lake Zhasybay. The cleanest lake in Bayanauyl Park, in terms of area, takes the second place. This is also one of the favorite tourist destinations with a well-developed infrastructure. There are many hotels and children's camps on the shore of the lake. The beauty of the lake and the surrounding nature are simply charming and worthy of the artist's brush. It is not for nothing that it is called "the second Switzerland".
Another large reservoir of our country is Lake Balkhash. The unique lake is famous for the fact that the western part of its waters is fresh, and the eastern part is salty. About twenty species of fish live in the lake, and over 120 species of birds have settled on its shores.
Bektau ata mountain is located on the left coast of Lake Balkhash. The beautiful landscape of "Mars" opens up before travelers. This is the middle of two natural landscapes - a granite mountain and a sandy steppe. One of the tempting places of this mountain is the Atabek cave. Its length is about 50 meters. According to an ancient legend, it is believed that here once the deities performed a religious ceremony dedicated to their mother, Umai.
At the intersection of Saryarka and Western Siberia, to the north of Kazakhstan is one of the most beautiful places in our country - the state national park "Burabay". High mountains, blue lakes, fluffy pines and white-trunked birches add an indescribable beauty to this region. There are over 305 species of animals here, 87 of which are rare or completely disappearing. There are 757 plant species on the territory of the park, 12 of which are listed in the Red Book.
In the footsteps of the Great Silk Road
A significant part of the Great Silk Road, which originates in ancient China and goes to the very heart of Europe, crosses the Zhetysu steppes and South Kazakhstan. The ancient cities along the caravan have become centers of trade, culture and science.
Taraz, long famous for its history, more than 2 thousand years ago, was located along the Great Silk Road and was of great importance. Merchants and artisans lived here and all trade routes of Asia and Europe crossed.
And in our time, many monuments have survived around Taraz that have witnessed historical events. Among them are the town of Akyrtas, the mausoleums of Babazha Khatun and Aisha Bibi, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
One of the ancient cities along the Great Silk Road, the largest before the Mongol invasion in Central Asia, is the city of Otyrar.
Arystan-Bab Sufi mausoleum is located near the city of Otyrar. This is one of the famous places in South Kazakhstan, where pilgrims and tourists come every day from all over our country and from abroad. Since 1982, the mausoleum has been protected by the state.
The city of Turkestan, which has long been called the "second Mecca", has become the center of historical tourism in Kazakhstan. People who are interested in ancient history come here, not only from Kazakhstan, but also from many countries of the world. Its history is approximately 1500 years old. The city has recently become a regional center. Its main attraction, attracting travelers from all over the world, is the Kozha Ahmet Yassaui Mausoleum. This unique structure, considered sacred by Muslims, was built by order of Khan Tamerlane.
The land of the Kazakhs is full of legends and secrets
We made only a short excursion to the amazing places of the Kazakh land covered with legends. And how many mysteries exciting with their depth are waiting for you yet! Do you want to touch them? Come - Kazakhstan has something to surprise you with.
