Saryarka is a vast steppe territory located in Northern and Central Kazakhstan, in the Akmola and Karaganda regions. It is known for its harsh climate, unique ecosystem with rich flora and fauna, and picturesque views.

Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is the first natural World Heritage site in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. It consists of two reserves, Korgalzhyn (Central Kazakhstan) and Naurzum (Northern Kazakhstan), with a total area of ​​450,344 hectares. Korgalzhyn Reserve of Saryarka on Google Maps. Photos by: Grigory Bedenko.

beautiful steppe scenery

Tags: Akmola oblast · Karaganda oblast

Senek is a village with a population of about 2,000 people located in the Karakiyansky district of the Mangystau region.

To the north-east of the village there is a sandy area named after the village – Senek Sands. Here you can see amazingly picturesque landscapes of a fairy tale desert. Senek Sands on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Mulder.

beautiful desert scenery

Tags: Mangystau oblast

Charyn Canyon (also known as Sharyn Canyon) stretches for 154 km along the Charyn River on the territory of the Charyn National Park, about 200 km east of Almaty, near the border with China.

It is a magnificent natural monument built of sedimentary rocks, which age is about 12 million years. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon reaches 150-300 m. Charyn Canyon on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

beautiful monument of nature

Tags: Almaty oblast

Bayanaul mountains are a mountain range located in the southwest of the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan. The mountains stretch from west to east for 40-50 km, from north to south – for 20-25 km. The highest point, Mount Akbet, reaches 1,022 m above sea level.

Bayanaul State National Natural Park, one of the most protected natural areas of Kazakhstan, was created in this territory. Founded in 1985, it became the first national park in the country. Bayanaul mountains on Google Maps. Photos by: Zekkadrb.

hike in the national park

Tags: Pavlodar oblast

The Karynzharyk depression is located almost entirely in the territory of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve in the southwestern part of the Mangystau region in Western Kazakhstan.

The distinctive feature of this area are the five remnant mountains, towering more than 150 meters in the midst of the salt plain. Three of them stand close to each other, locals call these mountains “Three Brothers”.

very picturesque place

Tags: Mangystau oblast

Boszhira, a mountain range consisting of a variety of chalk cliffs, is located in the western part of the Ustyurt plateau on the Mangyshlak peninsula in the Mangystau region.

Boszhira, the former bottom of the sea, occupies a very large area and consists of cliffs of various bizarre forms, which appeared as a result of erosion. It takes more than one day to explore it. Boszhira on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Mulder.

explore Boszhira

Tags: Mangystau oblast

Ustyurt is a huge desert and a plateau with an area of more than 200,000 kilometers located in the west of Central Asia (in Kazakhstan (Mangystau oblast), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), between Mangyshlak and Kara-Bogaz-Gol in the west, the Aral Sea and the Amudarya delta in the east. Ustyurt National Preserve is located on this territory. The Ustyurt Plateau on Google Maps. Photos by: Vladimir Mulder.

beautiful scenery

Tags: Mangystau oblast

The so-called “singing barkhan”, consisting of sand of light tones, has a length of up to 3 km and a height of 150 m. It is located in the Altyn-Emel National Park in the Almaty region, 182 km north-east of Almaty.

This monument of nature is famous for the fact that in dry weather the sands emit sounds similar to the melody of the organ. Singing Barkhan on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

legendary place

Tags: Almaty oblast

Ulytau is a complex of low mountains located in the southwest of Kazakh Upland (Sary Arka) – a steppe in Central Kazakhstan, in the northwest of the Karaganda region.

It is one of the oldest mountain ranges of Sary Arka that stretches from north to south for 200 km. The highest point is Akmeshit Peak (1,131 m).

scenic yellow, red and orange mountains

Tags: Karaganda oblast

Shalkude or Chelkudinskaya Valley is a beautiful mountain valley stretching for more than 100 km at an altitude of about 2,500 meters above sea level.

The valley of the Shalkudysu River, also known as Kegenskaya, is the most extensive valley in the Kazakh part of the Tien Shan. The Shalkodysu River gives rise to one of the largest waterways of the Almaty region – the Charyn River. Photos by: E.W.Shestakowa.

summer in the valley

Tags: Almaty oblast