Trip from Almaty to Altyn-Emel Park -
Excursion from Almaty city to the Singing Dune -
Singing dune (Singing Mountain) or Akkum-Kalkan (kaz,) is the name of a sand dune located on the territory of the national state Natural park of Altai-Emel. The singing dune is so called because it really knows how to sing. When a strong wind blows in a given place or you run down a dune from its top, you can hear a characteristic noise or howl that is emitted, as they say, by sand, or sand particles, from the friction of particles against each other.
Video from the Singing Dune
The Singing Dune
Singing Sands
How to get there, visit -
The Singing dune is located 180 kilometers from the city of Almaty (2.5 hours one way), in the Altyn-Emel Nature Park and Reserve, Almaty region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°52'02"N 78°34'01"E
Legends and myths -
The Singing dune is a mystery of the XXI century, in the Kazakh language the Singing dune is translated as Akkum-Kalkan, the height of the dune is 150 meters above sea level, 8 kilometers long, 3 kilometers wide. The singing dune served as a sound beacon for caravans on the Silk Road. When the caravan was moving, the sound from the dune could be heard several kilometers away, which was the right guide and direction for the caravan. The caravaneers said that if the sound from the dune was very strong, they stopped here for several days to wait out the bad weather. According to the assumption, the stronger the noise from the mountain, the more changeable the weather becomes. Locals say that there was once a magical city here, which still stands under a singing dune and sings from under the ground with the chime of bells. It is also believed that the sound is made by magical animals that live under the sand, and greet guests with a long-drawn howl. The most popular legend is considered to be about Shaitan, Shaitan in Russian means the devil. When the devil was walking home on the land of Kazakhstan, he fell asleep in this place and turned into a mountain of sand and now sings in his sleep and never wakes up. If he suddenly wakes up, it is believed that the end of the world will come. Therefore, people go there and by their presence make the devil sleep so that he does not wake up. Locals say that if people stop coming here, the devil will wake up and go looking for people himself. It is considered a good sign if you climb to the top of the dune, make a wish, it will definitely come true.
Important information -
When traveling to the Singing Dune, you must have a supply of water, at least two liters per person, a 4x4 car, sun goggles, a cap or hat for your head, good shoes (sand can be very hot during the day), Singing dune - this object is under the protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and is located in a protected area nature park, toll is possible.
Singing dune in the Altyn-Emel National Park and Reserve, next to the Ili River
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