Sights and nature of Zhetysu region -
The mountains of Kazakhstan and traveling through them -
The Dzungarian Alatau is one of the most majestic and little–explored mountain treasures of Kazakhstan, also known as the Zhetysu Alatau. Its snowy peaks, dense forests and crystal-clear rivers create a picture of pristine nature, where a person feels like a guest. This mountain range stretches along the border with China and occupies the eastern part of the Zhetysu region. Everything here – from the breath of the wind to the rustle of leaves – is imbued with the spirit of antiquity, myths and the silence of the highlands. Some of these massive mountains are located in the territory of the Zhongar-Alatau National Park, and the highest peak in these mountains is Semenov–Tyan-Shansky Peak, which is 4,622 meters above sea level. There is also the famous Burkhan-Bulak waterfall, which is the highest in Kazakhstan.
The mountains of the Dzungarian Alatau are famous for their unique nature. The slopes are covered with lush forests, among which grows the famous Sievers apple tree, the wild ancestor of all cultivated apple varieties. In spring, these trees turn into fabulous gardens of red, white and pink flowers, filled with the subtle scent of blooming apple trees and the hum of bees, and in autumn the trees begin to bear fruit and are covered with thousands of delicious apples. No botanical tour can compare with what opens the eyes in these places, this tour is called the "Tour for the Sievers Apple Tree in Kazakhstan".
How to get there and visit -
The Dzungarian Alatau is located in the Zhetysu region on the border with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, between the Ili River and Lake Alakol, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 45°00'14"N 79°59'29"E
Nature and landscapes -
The mountains of the Dzungarian Alatau (Zhetysu Alatau) are cut by glacial rivers and hide waterfalls, springs and warm springs. The Koksu, Karatal, Bien Rivers and other waterways feeding the vast Zhetysu plains originate here. Mountain rivers and springs feed dozens of streams and waterfalls. They are home to mountain trout, ottomans, and on the shores, there are many amphibians and reptiles: toads, frogs, grass snakes, cottonmouths. Geese, ducks, herons, and sandpipers stay in the wetlands for the summer.
On the northern slope of this mountain range is the Altyn-Emel National Park, which is very popular among travelers. There is an incredible change of natural zones: from the semi-deserts of the foothills to the alpine meadows and the eternal snows of the highlands. In the lowlands there are steppes, shrubs and dry–loving plants. Climbing higher, you enter the world of dense deciduous and coniferous forests, and even higher – into the realm of stone, snow and silence. There is also Lake Zhasylkol, which is reached by a mountain road and which allows you to reach the lake, so if you want to visit the mountains of Zhetysu Alatau, this is the best route in the region.
Flora -
The main pride of the region is the Sivers apple tree (Malus sieversii), the wild ancestor of all modern apple varieties. Here, in the secluded corners of forests and valleys, relict gardens grow, where in spring the air is filled with the scent of white and pink flowers. It is a true wonder of nature, protected by biologists and botanists all over the world. In addition to the apple tree, there are other wildly fertile trees: pears, cherry plum, rosehip, sea buckthorn, bird cherry, mountain ash. Birch, ash, maple, Tien Shan spruce grow in the forests, and a special place is occupied by the spruce zone, a rarity for Kazakhstan. There are many medicinal and endemic plants in the undergrowth: larkspur, adonis, elecampane, tulips, irises, lilies, and a carpet of edelweiss, mountain poppies, and cornflowers blooms in the alpine meadows. The Dzungarian Alatau is one of the biologically richest regions of the country. There are more than 2,000 species of vascular plants, including dozens of endemics that are not found anywhere else on Earth.
Fauna -
The animals in the mountains of the Dzungarian Alatau seem to have descended from the pages of ancient legends. Argali and Siberian ibex (ibex) gallop along the slopes, stone martens hide in the shade, foxes, badgers, and forest cats prowl. And if you're lucky, you can see the most mysterious predator of the mountains — the snow leopard, a symbol of independence and savagery. Bears, lynxes, and roe deer live in the mountain forests, and wolves and jackals are found in the foothills. The world of rodents is also rich: ground squirrels, pipits, dormice, mice and many other species are the most important links of the mountain ecosystem.
The birds here are the real song of the mountains. Golden eagles, bearded lambs, barn owls soar in the sky, kites and buzzards fly over the valleys, and nightingales, woodpeckers, orioles, blackbirds sing in the forests, and owls go hunting at night. Tundra partridges and grouse can be found in the alpine zone, and blue stonemason and mountain wagtail can be found in rocky crevices. Of the rare and protected species, there are: Turkestan lynx, snow leopard, black stork, peregrine falcon, saker falcon, manul cat.
The Dzungarian Alatau is not just mountains. It is a reservoir of biodiversity, a genetic laboratory of wildlife, a place where primeval nature is still alive. Many species here are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, and the mountains themselves are an important part of international programs for the conservation of biodiversity in Central Asia. This is the last stronghold of real, wild nature, a place where time flows according to its own laws, and man is just a rare guest in the realm of stone, ice and ancient trees. By coming here, you are not just traveling through space – you are transported to another era where the elements and the natural order of things still rule.
Attractions nearby:
Taldykorgan city
Kora Gorge
Kora River
Kapal River
Tamshybulak Spring
Tekeli Stupa (suburgan)
Lake Miketovo
Kalakai Sanctuary
Bayan Zhurek settlement
Uygentas kurgan (stone hill)
Medieval town of Almalyk
Talapty Settlement
Maly Koytas settlement
Tasbas Settlement
Balpyk Bi Mausoleum
Kapal village
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