Kazakhstan is amazing: Top 10 natural sights of the country

Zailiyskiy Alatau

Zailiyskiy Alatau is one of the main destinations for nature lovers and outdoor activities in Kazakhstan. Thanks to its diverse relief and climatic conditions, you can go mountaineering, amateur hiking, snowboarding and much more.

This mountain system is located in the south-east of Kazakhstan, in the Almaty region and is part of the Tien Shan mountain system. The name of the attraction is connected with the Abo River, which flows near these mountains.

Among the amazing places are the Big Almaty Lake surrounded by forest, the Ile Alatau National Nature Park, where you can walk along hiking trails, enjoy the mountain panorama and even see wild animals, as well as the Kok-Zhailau tract with beautiful surrounding landscapes. Another attraction of the Zailiyskiy Alatau is the high-mountain skating rink Medeo, which is located at an altitude of 1691 meters above sea level. It is, by the way, the largest outdoor skating rink in the world.

Singing Barkhan

Far beyond the country's borders, Kazakhstan's famous Singing Barkhan is located in the Altyn-Emel Nature Park.

It is a mountain of pure sand up to 150 meters high and 3 km long. At the beginning of the XXI century an international contest "Seven New Wonders of Nature" was held, and singing Barkhan became its nominee.

A rare natural phenomenon is observed here: during the movement of sand in dry weather, sand grains become electrified, and as a result of their vibration, a long and loud sound similar to throat singing or the sound of a jet airplane appears. The legendary and sacred nature of the mountain is reflected in Paulo Coelho's novel Zaire, where the protagonist has a revelation at the singing barchan.

Tarbagatai National Park

Spreading in the eastern part of the country, Tarbagatai National Park is another natural attraction of Kazakhstan of amazing beauty.

The park was opened in 2018 to preserve unique wild fruit trees protected from commercial impact. The park also includes the Karabas Mountains, the Arkaly Mountains and the Urzhar and Emel river valleys.

The flora and fauna of the region is diverse with over 1600 species of plants, 270 species of birds, 80 mammals, as well as fish and reptiles.

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Charyn Canyon

The Charyn Canyon stretches along the river of the same name for 154 kilometers. It is often compared to the Grand Canyon in North America because of its similar structure and scenery.

The Charin Canyon is believed to have formed about 12 million years ago as a result of erosion processes caused by wind and water activity. Subsequently, the Charin River washed deep gorges in the rock formations and created shapes resembling castles and towers. The canyon area was inhabited by ancient civilizations, confirmed by archaeological findings.

Also in the canyon area there is one of the oldest groves of saxaul trees in Central Asia. The age of some trees reaches 500-600 years.

Burabai

Burabai is called Kazakhstan's Switzerland. It is an area with rare beauty of hills, lakes and forests. It has the purest healing air, mineral waters and therapeutic muds.

The most attractive resort object in this park is Lake Burabai with clear water, coniferous forests, sandy shores and beaches.

Big Almaty Lake

A turquoise pearl surrounded by snowy peaks, Big Almaty Lake is a favorite destination for photographers and tourists in Kazakhstan. Its vibrant colors and tranquil atmosphere make the lake a must-see.

The lake is located at an altitude of 2510 meters in the gorge of the Bolshaya Almatinka River surrounded by mountain peaks. Depending on the time of year it changes its color from light green to blue. The lake is 1.6 km long, almost 1 km wide and 40 m deep.

Aksu-Jabagli Reserve

The Aksu-Jabagli Reserve is an incredibly beautiful place, where all the beauty of the mountain nature opens up: snow caps of the highest mountain peaks, breathtaking gorges, abundant waterfalls and alpine meadows.

The lands of these territories are rich in fossilized remains of plants and animals of the Jurassic period. The flora of the reserve today is diverse and contains more than 1700 species of plants, and of the animals the most inhabited fauna of birds - there are about three hundred species of them here.

Altyn-Emel National Park

The largest nature conservation area in Kazakhstan, the Altyn-Emel National Park is located in the desert and mountainous regions of the country. It is here that the famous singing barchan, the unusual Katutau and Aktau mountains, as well as the famous Sak mounds are located.

This land attracts with amazing landscapes, the purest mountain air and numerous monuments of antiquity. Another attraction of the park is radon springs with warm healing waters.

Khan-Tengri Peak

Khan-Tengri Peak is the highest peak in Kazakhstan. Its height is 7010 meters above sea level, which makes it the third highest mountain in the Tien Shan after Pobeda and Zhusup Aliyev peaks. Khan Tengri is located on the border of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China.

The name of the peak translates as "Lord of the Sky". In ancient times, the peak was considered a sacred place. What is interesting: the first registered ascent to Khan-Tengri Peak was made in 1931 by a Ukrainian expedition led by Mikhail Pogrebetsky.

Khan-Tengri Peak is one of the most popular peaks among mountaineers due to its height, technical difficulty and excellent views.

Lake Kaindy

Lake Kaindy was formed as a result of an earthquake that occurred in 1911. As a result of the natural cataclysm, a large landslide occurred, which blocked the gorge, forming a natural dam. Water from nearby rivers and springs filled the gorge, forming a nice lake. The peculiarity of the reservoir is that at the bottom of the lake are preserved flooded spruce trees, which still stand vertically, their tops protruding above the surface of the water, which creates a completely unique sight.

The submerged forest is the main attraction of the lake. The water in it is so clear that the submerged trees are visible even from the surface. Diving is quite popular here.