Little-known attractions in Charyn -
Walking and overnight stay in Charyn National Park -
The Lunar Canyon (Moon) in Charyn National Park is one of the most mysterious and atmospheric places, as if it came from the pages of a science fiction novel, it is also called the "Yellow Canyon". It is less known than, for example, the "Valley of Castles", and this is its special charm: silence, the absence of crowds of tourists, a sense of solitude and complete immersion in the cosmic landscape. The Lunar Canyon received its name for the unusual, almost alien shapes of rock formations and the gray-ash shade of the rocks, especially noticeable in the morning and evening light. Everything here looks as if you were on the surface of the Moon or Mars - rounded rocks, flat plateaus, deep crevices and complete silence. The air seems thicker and the steps are louder. Next to the canyon is the Kurtogay tract, also a famous natural landmark on the Charyn River.
How to get there and visit -
The Moon Canyon is located on the right bank of the Charyn River just behind the Kurtogay tract in the Charyn National Park, Kegen district, Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°16'35"N 78°59'37"E
Information -
The "Moon Canyon on Charyn" was formed by the same ancient force: time, water and wind. These forces slowly cut narrow passages, doors, cliffs in the earth, leaving an incredible sculpture in which it is easy to discern fantastic outlines: either castles, or the bones of giants, or the ships of an ancient civilization. This place is especially loved by photographers, because every hour of the day the landscape changes here – the sun and shadows make the rocks come alive. Geologists adore this place for its "open book" of earth history – in the outcrops of rocks you can see fossilized mollusks, imprints of ancient plants and even traces of prehistoric earthquakes. And photographers are ready to wait for hours for "that very" light to capture: "Salt Rivers" - bizarre white streaks on red sandstone, "Stone Roses" - mineral formations of incredible beauty or "Martian Dunes" - perfectly symmetrical sand hills. Local guides tell a legend that this place was a "testing ground" for spaceships of ancient civilizations. Scientists laugh, but when at night you see how strangely the light refracts in the stone "craters", you begin to doubt it. But the Moon Canyon is not only about geology. This is a place where you feel a complete reboot. There is no fuss, no unnecessary noise, just you, the wind and the ancient land. Sometimes you can see animal tracks or hear the cry of a golden eagle flying somewhere in the sky. It reminds you that life goes on here, just in a different rhythm - slow, strong, real. The path to the canyon is not easy, but that is what makes it special. Those who get here get a real sense of discovery. This is a place where you can be alone with yourself and hear the voice of the earth.
Attractions nearby:
Charyn Canyon
Sarytogay tract
Temirlik Canyon
Temerlik River
Bestamak Canyon
Bugutty Mountains
Charyn ash grove
Charyn ash cottage
Photogallery:
