Sanctuary And Canyons Of Mangistau

Day 1: Zhygylgan Hollow, Dzhigalgan, Kazakhstan to Kan'on Kapamsay ., Kochev'ye Udyuk, Kazakhstan

Saura Canyon Zhygalgan (fallen earth); Lake Kuzdykary (heart) - hiking; Sultan-Epe (underground mosque); Sultan-Epe (canyon); Kapamsay Gorge. The Zhygylgan Sinkhole, translated from Kazakh, means "fallen land." The sinkhole is a pile of huge stones; in ancient times, this area was once flat, but then a landslide occurred.Walking among the stone chaos of Cape Zhygylgan on the way to Lake Kuzdykary, we will see fossilized footprints of Neogene animals, such as ancient ungulates and saber-toothed tigers. Lake Kuzdykary is a small, heart-shaped lake, 90 meters long and 50 meters wide. The water is very salty. Sultan-epe Underground Mosque Sultan-epe is a unique ancient monument dating from the 9th-12th centuries. The canyon and well of Sultan-epe are particularly noteworthy. The well provides excellent drinking water and is believed to have healing properties. The Sultan-epe Canyon is 5 km long and is home to a variety of flora and fauna that you won't find anywhere else in the region. This picturesque canyon is very deep, and a stream flows through it.The slopes and bottom of the gorge are covered with dense thickets of blackberries, buckthorn, dogwood, mulberries, blackthorn, and lush grasses. Acting as a unique oasis, the gorge attracts a variety of animals and birds. Kapamsay Canyon A river once flowed at the bottom of the canyon, but it has dried up over time. At great depth, trees grow among the flint rocks, providing shade and coolness on hot summer days.The canyon's creamy, snow-white, and silvery cliffs reach 70 meters in height. Within the canyon is a huge grotto, in the roof of which rainwater has carved a hole, forming a grove of mulberry trees and hawthorns.