Nature of Koksay Gorge -
Jeep tour and mountain hike in Koksay Gorge in Aksu-Zhabagly -
Koksay Gorge is one of the most secluded and picturesque places in South Kazakhstan, located deep in the heart of Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, among the mighty spurs of Talas Alatau. It seems to be cut off from civilization, as if nature itself wanted to preserve the pristine silence here, so that a person could remember how the wind sounds in the juniper needles and how the river pebbles rustle under a transparent mountain stream. The river of the same name Koksay flows through the gorge and the state border of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan passes through the gorge. The gorge is very picturesque. This is not just a gorge, but a real natural sanctuary. A narrow valley with steep slopes, densely covered with Tien Shan spruce, juniper and birch, smoothly goes deep into the mountains, where whole cascades of wonders open up: from mossy waterfalls and cold springs to sunny glades, flooded with carpets of alpine flowers. In spring and summer, tulips, gentians, edelweiss and forget-me-nots bloom here, making every step a real discovery. At the head of the gorge is the beautiful high-mountain lake Koksay, which is located at an altitude of 2555 meters above sea level.
How to get there and visit -
Koksai Gorge is located in the eastern part of the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Zhualynsky District, Zhambyl Region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 42°25'12"N 70°55'40"E
Information -
Koksai Gorge is famous for its inaccessibility, also in the gorge there is a recreation center Koksay where you can rent a guest house for recreation. There is a mountain route up the gorge that will take you to the upper reaches of the gorge.
The fauna of the gorge is striking in its diversity. In these places you can meet Siberian roe deer, mountain goats, stone martens, and also hear the rare cry of a golden eagle or see a vulture soaring in the sky. Sometimes you can meet snow leopards here - as a reminder that you are a guest in these mountains and a secret can be hidden behind every turn.
The climate in the gorge is moderate mountain: it is warm during the day in summer, but in the evenings the temperature drops sharply, especially closer to the heights. Spring comes late - but when it blooms, the forests explode with greenery and aromas, like a long-awaited awakening.
Koksay Canyon is not just a geological miracle. It is a living museum, where the history of the earth is written on the slopes, like on the pages of a giant book. Foreign tourists come here to see the last wild corners of the planet, where nature still rules. Locals know: these rocks are the keepers of legends, and the waters of the gorge are the source of life. A traveler who sets foot here finds himself in another time. Where the roar of waterfalls drowns out the voices of civilization, where the shadows of clouds glide over the rocks like the spirits of ancestors, and the wind brings the scents of wild caraway and mountain savory. This is a place where the earth still speaks to man in the language of eternity. Do you have the courage to hear it?
Koksai Gorge is a place where you want to return in your thoughts again and again. It does not need pathos and advertising - it simply lives, breathes, and waits for those who are ready to meet nature face to face. Without fuss, without words - only you and the breath of the Earth.
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