On the territory of Kazakhstan, the Tekes River flows mainly in a wide intermountain valley in Raiymbek District – one of the most beautiful places in Almaty Oblast located in its southeastern part. This area is rarely visited by tourists, which contributed to the preservation of its pristine nature. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

beautiful nature views

Tags: Almaty oblast

The Valley of Balls is one of the most interesting and unusual sights of Mangystau Oblast and Western Kazakhstan. Stones of almost perfect spherical shape are scattered along the plateau and its slopes. The height of some stones reaches 1.5 meters or more.

The origin of these stone spheres is still not clear. Their shapes are gradually changing and the landscape becomes more and more mysterious. The Valley of Balls on Google Maps. Photos by: Roman Smirnov.

unique geological formations

Tags: Aktau city · Mangystau oblast

The chalk mountains of Aktau (literally “white mountains”), located about 260 km northeast of Almaty, is a unique natural monument that is part of the Altyn Emel National Park.

These multi-colored hills formed from bluish-gray sandstone and red clay, interspersed with yellow and pink cornelian, jasper, and white quartz, look like a layer cake. The height of the geological deposits reaches hundreds of meters. The Aktau Mountains on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

amazing scenery

Tags: Almaty oblast

The following beautiful photos were taken on the top of Mount Akkogyt (3,009 m) located in the south-east of the Almaty region and belonging to the mountain range of Terskey Alatau (Terskey Ala-Too).

Most of this mountain range is situated in Kyrgyzstan, but there is a small part of it on the territory of Kazakhstan. Mount Akkogyt on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

great hiking place

Tags: Almaty oblast

Tuzkol is a picturesque salty mountain lake located at an altitude of about 1,950 meters above sea level in the southeast of the Almaty region. In clear weather, in the south, you can see the majestic peaks of the Tien Shan.

Salinity of Lake Tuzkol varies by seasons and can reach almost the same levels as in the Dead Sea in Israel or the Great Salt Lake in the USA. Lake Tuzkol on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

very scenic spot

Tags: Almaty oblast

Morning on the plateau of Aktolagay – a snow-white mountain range located in the very west of Aktobe Oblast, about 250 km east of Atyrau. This is a picturesque wasteland with no paved roads, houses, trees, and even drinking water – the realm of the wind where sometimes you can meet horses and camels.

Wind and water, flowing abundantly down the mountain range during heavy rains, turned the plateau into an amazing world of chalk figures. Aktolagay Plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Aleksandr Manzhosov.

beautiful dawn scenery

Tags: Aktobe oblast

Akkergeshen Plateau, known for its bizarre weathered snow-white cliffs, is located about 56 km northeast of the town of Kulsary in the Atyrau region.

Shark teeth, remains of dinosaurs, prints of ancient plants and animals on stones – all this can still be found on this chalky plateau. Akkergeshen Plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Denis Frantsouzov.

fantastic landscapes

Tags: Atyrau oblast

Balkhash is a drainless semi-freshwater lake located in the south-east of Kazakhstan in the Almaty, Zhambyl and Karaganda regions. This is the second largest perennial salt lake (after the Caspian Sea) and the 14th in the list of the largest lakes in the world.

The uniqueness of Balkhash is that it is divided into two parts by a narrow strait with different chemical characteristics of the water – in the western part it is almost fresh, and in the eastern part it is brackish. Lake Balkhash on Google Maps. Photos by: Andrey Zhuravlev.

the largest inner lake of Kazakhstan

Tags: Almaty oblast · Karaganda oblast · Zhambyl oblast

Aktolagay, a snow-white mountain range almost 50 km long and about 10 km wide, is located in the southwest of the Aktobe region. The unusual, almost unparalleled landscape of the plateau makes it unique and attracts people interested in geotourism and auto-travelers.

In the distant past, it was the seabed. Here you can find fossilized remains of mollusks, bones and teeth of sharks and other living creatures that once inhabited the ancient sea. Aktolagay on Google Maps. Photos by: Natalya Kozlovskaya.

amazing white landscapes

Tags: Aktobe oblast

Sor Tuzbair is a solonchak (salt marsh) located in the Mangystau region in the south-west of Kazakhstan. Almost the entire territory of this region is covered with saline and deserts, water sources are absent.

This is a picturesque area combining three colors: white – salt, limestone, clouds; blue – the sky; yellow-brown – the color of the soil, which emphasizes the whiteness of salt. Sor Tuzbair is a natural combination of deserts, hills and cliffs. People come here to explore the salt marsh and conquer rocky peaks. Sor Tuzbair on Google Maps. Photos by: Natalya Kozlovskaya.

amazing kingdom of white

Tags: Mangystau oblast