Nature of Burabay National Park -
Mountain hike to Mount Kekshetau from Borovoe -
The Kokshetau upland (The Burabay Mount) is a magical place of Borovoye, a place of power, a panoramic point from which a beautiful panorama of the Burabay National Park and the lakes located here opens. The place is also known as Mount Kokshetau or the Kokchetav Upland, it is part of the Kazakh Melkosopochnik and is located at an altitude of 947 meters above sea level. The slopes of the mountain are covered with a beautiful pine forest, and there is a simple hiking route through the entire forest that allows you to reach the hill. As described above, from a panoramic point on the mountain you will see Lake Bolshoe Chebachye, Lake Maloe Chebachye, Lake Borovoe (Auliekol), and in the distance you will see Lake Shchuchye. This place is very popular, in the village of Borovoe you can find a guide who will guide you to the place and show you all the sights along the way. You can also stay in a hotel or guest house in the village for a rest. Parts of the hill are also natural attractions such as the rock island of Zhumbaktas and Mount Okzhetpes.
How to get there and visit -
The Kokshetau upland (Mount Kokshetau) is located near the village of Borovoe in the Burabai National Park, Burabai district, Akmola region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 53°04'48"N 70°11'18"E
Information -
The Kokshetau upland is a part of the vast Saryarka (Kazakh small–scale forest), located in the north and in the center of Kazakhstan. It occupies a huge territory in the Akmola region. The name "Kokshetau" in Kazakh means "blue mountain" because of the color of the distant peaks, which, shrouded in a light blue haze, seem to dissolve into the sky. The average elevation ranges from 200 to 600 meters, but some peaks, such as the famous Kokshetau Mountain, reach almost 950 meters above sea level. The climate here is continental. Summer is warm, sunny, with occasional rains. Winters are snowy and frosty, but often clear. The air on the hill is special – clean, saturated with the aromas of steppe grasses, pine needles and sun-warmed earth.
The Kokshetau upland is an alternation of soft hills, stone ridges, valleys and small lakes, many of which are of glacial origin. The slopes are covered with a carpet of various grasses, and in some places relict pine forests stand – living witnesses of the ancient era. Lakes scattered among the hills sparkle like precious stones under the sun. Among them, Shchuchye, Borovoe, Bolshoe and Maloe Chebachye, Lake Kotyrkol (Katarkol) stand out. The whole area around the mountain is a real wildlife reserve. Roe deer, foxes, hares, wild boars live here, and even wolves are found. And the sky is split by eagles and falcons, as if reminding that the spirit of freedom has always hovered over this land. The forests are full of fragrant pines, birches and aspens, cowberry, sage, wormwood bloom in the grassy steppes, and in spring there are fiery tulips and irises.
Cultural and spiritual significance -
The Kokshetau upland and the lands around it have long been a place of strength for Kazakh clans. Ancient mounds, nomad camps, and traces of ancient paths have been preserved on the mountain. Legends say that great warriors fought here, wise biy roamed, and the rocky peaks served as lighthouses for travelers.
Today, the Kokshetau upland is not only a natural wonder, but also a spiritual heritage. Here, in every gust of wind, the voice of centuries can be heard, in every reflection of the water – the memory of the ancient steppe peoples. This is a world where every step becomes a journey into oneself. It's easy to feel the hustle and bustle go away, and your thoughts become clear. Here there is scope for dreams, here every path calls forward to new horizons.
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