The Phenomenon of Ringing Sands or Singing Sands -
Jeep Tour to the Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel Park -
Singing Dune (singing sands or ringing sands) - located in the Altyn-Emel National Park, where the sky meets the sky, and the Ili River and the sand from its shallows formed this singing and ringing miracle of nature. It is also called the "Singing Sands", and this is not just a hill of sand - it is a living creature that sings when the wind touches its surface. As soon as the wind rises, the dune comes to life, sounds, hums, as if an ancient organ, the voice of the earth or the breath of some powerful spirit is hidden in its depths. The official version says that the sound appears when the wind starts blowing and the grains of sand begin to rub against each other. The sound of the dune is especially loud at night, when a cold wind blows from the east. Even if there is no wind, this sound can be created artificially. To do this, you need to gather two or three people into a group and run down from the top of the dune, and the sound will appear, but for a short time, and you will also feel the vibration under your feet. When it rains or when the sand becomes wet after rain, the sound is completely absent, apparently due to the fact that the sand gets wet. At night, the sound around the dune can be heard at a distance of 2 to 3 kilometers. Before visiting this location, you must go to the visitor center in the village of Basshi to obtain a permit.
How to get there and visit -
The Singing Dune is located 183 kilometers from the city of Almaty on the territory of the Altyn-Emel National Nature Park, the right bank of the Ili River, the Small and Big Kalkan Mountains, Kerbulak District, Almaty Region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°51′53″N 78°34′00″E
Information -
This natural phenomenon of the "Singing Barakhan" is not known or observed anywhere else in the world, which makes the place unique and magical by definition. Even in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, such a phenomenon is not observed or recorded. This sand giant, about 150 meters high and almost three kilometers long, stretches along the Ili Valley, in the middle of a semi-desert landscape, like a huge golden wing forgotten by the heavens. What makes it special is not only its size, but that very mystical sound. It is born when grains of sand, heated by the sun and set in motion by the wind, begin to roll, creating vibrations. And then a strange hum spreads across the steppe - dull, drawn-out, low, reminiscent of the sound of a distant flying plane or an organ in a temple. Sometimes it seems that the spirit of Altyn-Emel itself sings, and sometimes – as if something great and ancient sleeps underground, and in its sleep it talks to the world. An old tale says that in these sands rests an ancient khan with an army, and the dune is his eternal grave. And every night, when all living things fall silent, and the wind touches it at a certain angle, the khan sings a song about lost battles and fate. Others believe that this place connects the world of the living and the spirits, and through this sound the ancestors remind us: "We are near. We are here."
The Singing Dune does not stand still – it moves, albeit slowly. Over the centuries, it could move several meters, like a wandering sage. But despite this, its shape is preserved, and it remains as perfect as it was centuries ago. This makes it even more amazing – as if nature itself decided to create an ideal instrument, and for centuries to come. Climbing the dune is not easy – your feet sink into the sand, the sun is blazing, and the wind plays with your every step. But when you reach the top, a panorama opens up that takes your breath away: on one side is the Ili River valley, on the other are the blue ridges of the Dzungarian Alatau. All this is in the palm of your hand. And if you are not alone, and suddenly the dune starts humming – do not be afraid. Just accept this sound. This is a greeting. This is a sign.
The Singing Dune is not just a landmark. It is a symbol. It is a place of power. It is a living legend that can not only be seen, but also heard. And this is the whole magic of Altyn-Emel – a land where every tree, every rock and even a grain of sand knows how to speak to the soul of a person.
Attractions nearby:
Terekty Gorge
Terekty petroglyphs (rock carvings)
700-year-old willow
Chokan Valikhanov Spring
Besshatyr Mounds
Big Besshatyr Mound
Besshatyr Menhirs (stone steles)
Oshaktas Steles (stone steles)
Aktau Mountains (White Mountains)
Katutau Mountains (lava mountains)
Altynemel Mountain Range
Sholak Mountains
Ulken-Kalkan Mountains
Kysty-Kalkan Mountains
Matai Mountains
Degeres Mountains
Kerkulans (Przewalsky horse)
Kulans (wild donkeys)
Sights of Altyn-Emel Park
History of Besshatyr Mounds
Legend of the Singing Dunes
History of the Przewalski horse
Fauna of Altyn-Emel Park
Flora of Altyn-Emel Park
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