Nature of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is one of

Nature of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is one of the largest natural areas. This vast territory is not uniform and has an exceptional contrast: here are the hottest and the coldest deserts of our country, the largest inland bodies of water and the river wandering lost in the desert plains, the highest mountains, covered with eternal snows and ice caps, and the deepest trench, the bottom of which is lowered below sea level to 100 m and more. Everything here is Grand, unique and very original.

Kazakhstan is a country that most people don’t think of when it comes to wonders. However the country is beautiful and has some incredible creations. Make your voice heard and help determine the Seven Wonders of Kazakhstan.

1. Burabai As you enter the Kokshetau Heights after travelling a thousand kilometres across the steppe, a landscape will appear that you probably will call a marvel. In the middle of the steppe is a large oasis filled with the fragrance of splendid grass and forests. Sometimes urban people who come to these places for the first time fall unconscious as they breathe in the purest, freshest air of Burabai. The backbone of Burabai’s "oxygen factory" is the evergreen pine forests that cover the hills. The oldest of these giant trees are about two hundred years old. The "eyes" of this land are the beautiful blue lakes: Burabai (Borovoye in Russian), Schuchye, Grand Chebachye and Minor Chebachye. Mushrooms and berries are abundant, and the animal life includes deer, elk, bears, wolves, squirrels and about two hundred species of birds. Burabai is sometimes called "the Kazakh Switzerland", and rightly so. Burabai is an excellent recreational place in any season. A number of superb spas have been built there, and the Kokshetau National Park has been established to protect wildlife.

2. Charyn Canyon Are there anyone from Almaty who has never been to the Charyn Canyon yet? This huge stone labyrinth attracts hundreds of tourists annually and every time shocks with its scale since its length is reaching 154 kilometers, while the height of steep mountains is reaching 300 meters. Here you can walk on the "Valley of Castles" and see the chain of red indents similar to towers of giants. Some guides like to tell fairytales about witches attacking belated tourists in the "valley". Sitting by the fire, you can hear howling and "laughter of coven“ since the wind, hitting the porous rock cliffs, creates mystical sounds. Also, take a look at relict ash grove which has been through the age of congelation. Another similar grove can be found only in the North America.

3. Lake Kaindy In the Kungey Alatau pass, close to the famous Kolsay lake, the marvelous lake of Kaindy is located. Naked tree stems are rising above turquoise water surface, which fully covers flooded wood. Few people know that the lake appeared here only about 100 years ago when mudflow has blocked the valley and the tall Tien-Shan spruces found themselves under water. By the way, it is the case when you have to hurry up in order to personally enjoy the local landscapes, since the nature has already threatened the lake with several recent attacks. Another mudflow сame down here in 1980, repeating the old-day events. As a result, the waterlevel has decreased and the lake became muddy. Of course with time the mud has settled on the bottom and the lake returned its crystal appearance, however, the feeling that these stately trees are in the expectation of something scary will never leave us.

4. Singing Barkhan is a 150 meters high dune made of fine yellow sand. You can observe it frim far away, and even hear it on a hot dry day. Unique sound resembling the organ music was the reason for the title "singing" in the name of the dune. People could not reach the common opinion concerning why the sand mountain is "singing", but it does not really matter when you make the huge dune to buzz under your steps. You can sandboard here. While in the national park, don't forget to touch the famous 700 years-old willow, which can be found on the road to the Aktau mountains. People say that this ancient tree has witnessed Genghis Khan's military campaign.

5. Altyn-Emel National Park Altyn-Emel is a place where the diversity of the local nature is best seen. The animal life is unique, with 56 species protected by the state. There you can see herds of the graceful jeyran antelope and, with a little luck, encounter a swift mountain goat, tauteke, or a timid wild horse, kulan. The latter endangered species is being restored in Altyn-Emel. The plant life is just as rich and distinct. Visitors should see the famous sandwich-like mountains of Aktau (Kazakh for "white mountains"). These lifeless, oddly incised rocks, painted white, pink or red, look like the pieces of a giant pie and impress a newcomer at once.

6. Shaitankol Mysterious lake Shaitankol is located five kilometers from Karkaralinsk, at 1, 200 meters above the sea level. The lake was called devilish by locals because of the "devilry" that has always been accompanying this place: sometimes people disappear by the lakeside, sometimes the whole herd. Local folktales formed the basis for the poem of Sabit Mukanov "Sulushash". The poem tells the story of two lovers who escaped for the sake of their love. Also, the description of this picturesque lake can be found in the Michael Prishvin's "Steppe Sketch".

Zailiysky Alatau The Zailiysky Alatau is a place of great charm, and is one of the most promising areas in South Kazakhstan in terms of tourist industry development. Scarlet poppies and tulips, emerald green grass, blue firs, snow-white peaks and myriads of huge stars at night all make the local landscapes recognisably distinct. As you climb to 2, 000 m above sea level or higher, you will be fascinated at the breathtaking view of the plain below and clouds curling at your feet. The vast sun-dried steppe creeps up on the mountains forming so-called "cabinets" on the slopes. From the plain, the mountains look like a wall hiding half of the world, their peaks cut-off by low clouds and soaring freely in the sky. It is indeed an unforgettable spectacle.