The most interesting places in Burabay Park -
Okzhetpes Mountain Day Trip -
Among the enchanting landscapes of Burabay, where forests whisper ancient tales and lakes reflect the skies, stands a proud and lonely rock – Okzhetpes. It's not just a mountain, it's not just a rock, it's a symbol, it's a story carved by nature into granite. This is the soul of the steppe, frozen in time, this is the heart of Burabai National Park, this is its calling card.
Her name, Okzhetpes, which in Kazakh means "beyond the reach of an arrow," was not given to her by chance. The rock rises to a height of about 300 meters above sea level, and its granite massif is like a challenge – mighty, impregnable, proud. People say, "Not even an arrow can reach the top of this cliff." Indeed, the mountain seems to hover over Lake Borovoe (Auliekol), like an eternal guardian, keeping the secrets of the past. There is a route to climb the mountain, but for this you will need special equipment (helmet, rope, safety system for climbing the mountain).
How to get there and visit -
Okzhetpes Rock is located in the Burabai National Park on the shore of Lake Borovoe (Auliekol), Burabai district, Akmola region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 53°05'12"N 70°14'48"E
Information -
The Okzhetpes rock itself resembles the profile of a woman with flowing hair when viewed from a certain angle. Geologists claim that this granite massif is more than one and a half billion years old. Its surface, dotted with bizarre potholes and cracks, resembles a giant stone book, the pages of which preserve the memory of ancient earthquakes and ice ages. Especially impressive is the "Stone Gate", a natural arch formed as a result of thousands of years of weathering, which has become a hallmark for thousands of photographs.
Climbing to the observation deck of Okzhetpes is an obligatory ritual for every guest of Burabay. After climbing 300 steps (which takes about 20 minutes), you find yourself at the top, with a breathtaking panorama: the turquoise expanse of Lake Borovoe, emerald islands of pine forests and a chain of bizarre cliffs on the horizon. In clear weather, visibility reaches 40 kilometers! The special microclimate at the foot of the cliff creates unique natural phenomena. Even on the hottest day, it is cool here, and in windy weather, granite begins to "sing" – to emit melodious sounds similar to the sound of a huge musical instrument. Morning tourists often witness an amazing optical phenomenon – a mirage, when a ghostly reflection of a rock appears above the lake.
Modern infrastructure has made Okzhetpes accessible to all categories of tourists. There is convenient parking, souvenir shops with local handicrafts, and a cozy cafe with a view of the cliff. Horseback riding around the massif is offered for outdoor enthusiasts.
Okzhetpes rock look especially magical at different times of the day and year. At dawn, its granite sides turn pale pink, at noon the rock appears in all its majestic grandeur, and in the evening, thanks to the skillful lighting, it turns into a mysterious silhouette, as if hovering over the lake. In winter, snow-capped cliffs create the feeling of a fantastic ice castle. Locals believe that Okzhetpes has a special energy. Many people claim that after visiting this rock, they find peace of mind and clarity of thought. Perhaps that is why people have been coming here for several centuries in search of inspiration, answers to important questions, or just wanting to touch eternity, frozen in stone. A beautiful panorama opens from the top of Okzhetpes Mountain, Lake Bolshoe Chebachye, Lake Maloe Chebachye, Lake Shchuchye, Lake Auelikol (Borovoe) are visible from the mountain.
The Okzhetpes rock Mountain is not just a natural landmark. This is a place of power. You don't just walk here – you feel the pulse of history, hear the echoes of ancient legends, and feel how this land breathes in unison with you.
Legend -
One of the legends says that a boy was born in one of the Villages, the boy was unusual, he was tall and very strong. The boy grew up and became bigger and stronger, at one point he became so strong and big that the strongest archer from the local warriors, shooting a bow, could not even reach the chest of a young warrior with an arrow. The boy was named Okzhetpes, he became a warrior and began to protect local lands. Once there were elephants in these places and the boy tamed one of them. The boy made a war elephant out of this elephant. At one point, the enemies joined forces to defeat Okzhetpes, who was guarding the local lands, they gathered and attacked the village where Okzhetpes lived. Okzhetpes fought with them for three days and three nights and defeated the enemy, after the battle he decided to rest and fell asleep. The enemy was sitting in ambush at that moment and attacked Okzhetpes when he was sleeping in the forest. Okzhetpes woke up and started fighting with the enemies, he tore out the ancient pines and crushed the enemy with them. The war elephant was helping its master. When Okzhetpes won, he decided to stay here for centuries and asked the gods to turn him and his elephant into stone to protect these lands from enemies. His wish was heard and Okzhetpes was turned into stone, Okzhetpes rock.
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