Rivers of the Zhetysu region in Kazakhstan -
Trip to the Koksu River from Almaty -
The Koksu River is one of the pearls of Zhetysu (Semirechye), located in the Zhetysu region, powerful and beautiful, like the nature of this ancient land itself. Its name is translated from Kazakh as "blue water" - and this is not just a poetic name. The waters of the Koksu are truly clean and have a special shade, especially in the upper reaches, where the river is born from the glaciers and springs of the Dzungarian Alatau. In these places, it is young and stormy, rushing between rocks and forests, washing the bases of the mountains, reflecting the blue of the sky and the whiteness of the snowy peaks. The river flows into the Karatal River and flows near the city of Tyldykorgan. The color of the Koksu River has a rich aquamarine hue, so when you see this river for the first time you cannot believe that the water can be of such an unusual milky-blue color. In July-August, the water of the river warms up and loses its fantastic color, so it is better to come to the river at the beginning of summer.
How to get there and visit -
The Koksu River is located in the Kerbulak district, Yeskeldinsky district, Koksuysky district, Zhetysu region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 44°49'07"N 78°21'35"E
Information -
The length of the Koksu River is 159 kilometers, the river originates high in the mountains at an altitude of 3500 meters above sea level. The river is formed from the confluence of two small rivers: the Kazan River and the Karaaryk River. Its waters feed fields, pastures, orchards and old villages. People have settled along its banks since ancient times, knowing that where the Koksu flows, there will be grass for cattle, there will be a harvest, there will be life. According to legend, Tengri herself - the great power of the sky - gave this river to the people of Zhetysu so that it would protect, feed and water the land. The river is unique not only for its beauty, but also for the nature that surrounds it along its entire course. On its banks there are dense willows, reed thickets, steppe and mountain flowers. Many birds live here: wild ducks, herons, eagles, and fish splash in the water - trout, perch, bream, carp. Closer to the source you can meet marals, roe deer, mountain goats, and if you're lucky - even a snow leopard. This is a place where wildlife still speaks its own language - pure, ancient, untouched.
The Koksu River has long been considered sacred. It was remembered in songs, tales were told about it around the fires. In some places, ancient ritual stones have been preserved to this day, where nomads performed rites of gratitude to the spirits of water. It was believed that if you throw a silver coin into Koksu and ask for protection, it will help. Many old people say that the river has its own soul, feminine and strong, and if you treat it with respect, it will open the way, show the right path and give strength. The river has a special significance in the history of the region. Nomads walked through the Koksu valley, trade routes passed, caravans stopped here to rest, and later bridges, mills, and water stations were built. You can find ancient burials, burial mounds, traces of ancient settlements near the river. Each bend of Koksu keeps a secret of the past, which can be heard if you just listen to the sound of water and the breath of the wind.
Today, Koksu is a place of power, the pulse of Zhetysu and a tourist destination. Nature seekers, photographers, fishermen, and those who are simply in love with Zhetysu come here. You can raft down the river, walk along its banks, set up tent camps, listen to the birds, and catch sunrises. It is not just water – it is the spirit of the earth that lives and moves, connecting mountains with plains, the past with the future, man with nature. As long as it flows, the earth itself lives.
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