Jan/26

Picturesque Cliffs of Boszhira

No comments · Posted by Sergei Rzhevsky in Nature, Regions, Travel

Boszhira, a mountain range consisting of numerous chalk cliffs, is located in the western part of the Ustyurt plateau on the Mangyshlak Peninsula in Mangystau Oblast.

Formerly a seabed, it covers a vast area and consists of rocks of various, unusual shapes formed by erosion. Exploring it would take more than a day. Boszhira on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Mulder.

Boszhira is the most large-scale and impressive landmark in all of Mangystau. It’s worth visiting last, as all other locations pale in comparison to its beauty and monumentality. From the Kazakh language, this unusual name is translated as “gray ravine” or “gray-blue depression”.

Over hundreds of millions of years, layers of limestone accumulated under pressure on the ocean floor, today reaching a height of up to 250 meters. Fossils of ancient sea creatures are preserved in this rock: shells, shark teeth, algae stems, and more.

Then, due to tectonic shifts, the vast Ustyurt plateau rose, and the water receded. A process of erosion began that lasted approximately 40-60 million years, creating its current appearance.

The Boszhira tract is a nature park, requiring a permit to visit. The park’s total area is over 3,000 square kilometers, but the most famous observation platforms and most beautiful rock formations are located within an area of approximately 40 square kilometers, and a quick tour will take 2-3 hours.

Boszhira is located 270 km east of Aktau. Almost the entire road is excellent paved, with only the last 5 km from the exit being on a dirt road.

However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the drive between the three popular viewpoints adds another 60 km on dirt roads, including one fairly steep descent.

Therefore, the trip will require a reliable SUV and professional off-road driving skills, or a local driver-guide.

Due to its remoteness from Aktau and other places, many tourists stay overnight in tents on Boszhira. Spending the night on Boszhira allows you to enjoy the starry sky. In the morning, you can see these same remnant mountains in the rich colors of the rising sun.

Also, spending the night gives you a few extra hours to search for fossils at the foot of the cliffs.

A tour to Boszhira is an unforgettable journey that every traveler exploring Mangystau should take. Just make sure you pack everything you need for a few days in the desert and charge your camera, as you’ll want to take hundreds of photos.