Traveling to hard-to-reach places in the Dzungarian Alatau -
Jeep tour to the Kora Gorge from Almaty -
The Kora Gorge (Korinskoye Gorge) is a wild, harsh and beautiful part of Zhetysu that is rarely seen by casual travelers. Hidden in the western part of the Dzungarian Alatau, the gorge cuts into the mountain range like a giant fault, filled with the power of nature and pristine silence. A special atmosphere reigns here: cliffs up to 300 meters high hang over the river, forests cover the slopes, and the sky seems closer than anywhere else. At the head of the gorge is the famous Burkhan-Bulak waterfall (45°00'28"N 79°12'28"E), which is reached by a difficult mountain road along the Kora River. The journey to the gorge begins in the city of Taldykorgan and passes through the village of Tekeli, where the Tekeli Stupa (Buddhist Stupa, suburgan) is located. The second route to this gorge and to the waterfall passes through the village of Kapal. Before reaching this village, there is a road that goes into the mountains and passes through the Kapalsky Vzvoz pass (45°01'24"N 79°01'13"E). ATTENTION. Both roads that lead to the Kora gorge are difficult mountain roads, and can only be driven on specially prepared 4x4 high-traffic jeeps.
The Kora River, flowing along the bottom of the gorge of the same name, seethes and foams, breaking through stone gorges. Its waters are born high in the glaciers of the Dzungarian Alatau and carry with them the cold of the mountains and the power of the elements. In spring and summer, the river is especially full-flowing, and its noise can be heard far beyond the gorge. Along the way, the water forms rapids and small waterfalls, creating the enchanting music of the mountains. The color of the water in this river is magical bright blue or turquoise. Rafting and kayaking are possible on the river. There are also fish in the river, which makes this river popular among fishermen.
How to get there and visit -
The Korinskoye Gorge (Kora) is located in the mountains of the Dzungarian Alatau, Eskeldinsky district, Zhetysu region, Republic of Kazakhstan. GPS coordinates: 45°00'16"N 79°00'34"E
Information -
The Kora mountain gorge is both a natural museum and a sanctuary of silence. Rare plants and animals, some of which are listed in the Red Book, can be found here. The local forests are covered with mighty Tien Shan spruces, birch groves, junipers and flowering mountain herbs. The air here is clean and filled with the aromas of pine needles, water and stone.
For a tourist, the Kora gorge is a challenge and a reward. Getting here is not easy: you need preparation, transport, a map and a desire to get away from civilization. But those who get here get something more - a sense of real, untouched nature. Here you can go trekking, organize tent camps, sit by the fire and play the guitar, listen to the night silence and the morning voices of birds. This is an ideal place for photo tours, ecological routes and for those who are looking for places of power.
It is believed that in ancient times caravan routes or nomadic paths could pass through these places, and local residents revered the Kora Gorge and the Kora River as a sacred space where a person approaches the spirits of the mountains and ancestors. Old-timers talk about inexplicable events, strange lights in the mountains, and how the gorge can "not let in" a stranger - if he came with bad intentions. Heavy rain can begin and impenetrable fog can appear.
The Kora Gorge is the heart of the Dzungarian Alatau. Powerful, wild, proud and beautiful. This is the place where a person again feels like a part of nature, and not its master. A real treasure of Zhetysu, hidden from the noise of the world.
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