Travel through the deserts of Zhetysu region -
Steppes and plains of Kazakhstan -
Saryesik-Atyrau Desert is one of the most mysterious and majestic places of Zhetysu, stretching between Lake Balkhash and the Dzungarian Alatau ridges. Its area reaches almost 60 thousand square kilometers, and although this is a harsh, at first glance, land, it contains an amazing harmony of nature and history. The desert is located on the territory of Zhetysu region and Almaty region in Kazakhstan, the Ili River flows through the desert. The desert landscape is striking in its diversity: endless sand dunes stretch here, reminiscent of the waves of a frozen sea, giving way to clay plains and rare oases. In some places you can find salt marshes, where the ground turns white with salt, and saxaul thickets, which provide shade and shelter for animals. The dunes are especially picturesque at sunset - under the sun's rays they shimmer with gold, copper and pink hues. Rivers such as the Lepsy River, the Aksu River and the Karatal River also cross this desert.
How to get there and visit -
The Saryesik-Atyrau Desert is located in the Balkhash-Alakol Basin in the south of Lake Balkhash, Almaty Region, Zhetysu Region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 45°29'59"N 76°59'56"E
Information -
The fauna of Saryesik-Atyrau is surprisingly rich for a desert. It is home to goitered gazelles and saigas, steppe wolves, jerboas, and corsac foxes. Rare birds can be found - bustards, little bustards, eagles and falcons, which circle over the expanses in search of prey. Rare species of reptiles have also survived in the desert, as well as many insects that are perfectly adapted to harsh conditions.
The flora is represented by saxaul, juzgun, wormwood, and in the spring the desert comes to life: steppe flowers bloom between the dunes, giving the landscape an amazing charm.
Saryesik-Atyrau is also the land of ancient nomads. Here archaeologists find traces of the Saka tribes, burial mounds and camps that are reminiscent of the rich history of the Great Steppe. Local legends say that the desert holds many secrets, and the spirits of ancestors roam its expanses. For the Kazakhs, the desert has always been a place of trials - physical and spiritual. It was believed that whoever can cross it alone will receive the blessing of the ancestors. Rare water sources were of particular importance - they were revered as sacred, and travelers left offerings to the spirits in the form of ribbons or coins next to them. Even today, some of these springs are considered healing, and their water, according to legend, can heal not only the body, but also the soul.
Since ancient times, dangerous routes of the Great Silk Road ran through this desert. Caravans with silk, spices and jewelry crossed the desert to shorten the route, and many disappeared here without a trace, swallowed up by the sands or the scorching sun. Locals still tell legends about lost treasures, guardian spirits of the desert and batyrs who found shelter or last refuge in these sands. One of these myths says that great warriors sleep under large dunes, and their power still protects these lands from harm.
Today, the Saryesik-Atyrau desert attracts adventurers, scientists and those seeking solitude. Jeep safaris on the dunes, overnight stays under incredibly clear starry skies, traces of ancient settlements and stone sculptures - all this makes Saryesik-Atyrau a unique place. But visiting it requires preparation: extreme temperatures, sandstorms and a lack of infrastructure mean that you should only go here with an experienced guide and full equipment. This is a place where time stands still and nature reminds us of its power and grandeur.
