Nurgul Kozhamseitova, head of the tourism and environmental education department of the Altyn-Emel State Scientific Enterprise, spoke about the rich natural and historical heritage of the park.
— On the territory of the Altyn-Emel National Park you can literally read the history of the Earth. Traces of ancient volcanic activity, paleontological finds and monuments dating back to different historical eras have been preserved here,” notes Nurgul Kozhamseitova.
A special place among the natural objects of the park is occupied by the Katutau Mountains – ancient extinct volcanoes that have formed an unusual and almost fantastic landscape.
— The Katutau Mountains amaze with their relief. These are frozen forms of ancient lava, bizarre rock formations and rocks of various shades – from yellow and red to purple. All this creates the feeling that you are on another planet,” says the head of the tourism department.
Today Katutau attracts not only tourists, but also geologists studying processes that occurred millions of years ago.
An equally significant object of the Altyn-Emel National Park is the Aktau Mountains, which are rightly called a natural open-air paleontological museum.
— Aktau is one of the most valuable geological sections. Rock layers more than 40 million years old have been discovered here. It was in these layers that the remains of ancient animals that inhabited the territory of modern Kazakhstan were found,” says Nurgul Kozhamseitova.
Among the most significant finds are brontotheres and ancient rhinoceros-like animals that lived during the Eocene era. These discoveries are of great scientific importance, since they allow us to study the evolution of fauna and the natural conditions of the ancient Earth.
It is especially important that the most complete remains of brontotheres, including skulls and almost skeletons, were discovered in Kazakhstan, which is a world-class rarity.
It’s also worth noting that one of the park’s most famous natural phenomena is the Singing Dune, a giant sand dune that emits a low rumble as the dry sand moves.
— The Singing Dune is located between the Ulken-Kalkan and Kishi-Kalkan mountain ranges, on the right bank of the Ili River. Its length reaches about three kilometers, and its height is up to 150 meters. Under certain conditions, sand begins to emit a sound reminiscent of the hum of an organ or a distant motor,” explains the specialist.
This rare natural phenomenon occurs only in a few places in the world. Scientists associate it with the friction of dry grains of sand and their mass movement. However, for tourists this phenomenon remains almost mystical and arouses interest. Another feature of the Singing Dune is that it does not change its location.
In addition to natural sites, Altyn-Emel Park is also rich in historical and cultural heritage.
One of the most famous archaeological complexes is Besshatyr, a large Saka necropolis consisting of dozens of mounds. These ancient burials date back to the 6th–4th centuries BC and are associated with the era of the Saka tribes of Zhetysu.
According to folk legends, Besshatyr is considered the place where great leaders and warriors of the steppe rest. Local residents have long believed that the mounds store the power of their ancestors, and that the land itself has a special energy.
Another famous monument is Oshaktas, stone steles rising in the middle of the steppe. According to legend, they were installed by order of Genghis Khan himself. It is believed that this is where his warriors stopped during their campaigns, and a huge cooking pot was installed on stone supports, capable of feeding an entire army.
Today, the Altyn-Emel conservation area is a unique combination of natural phenomena, scientific discoveries and cultural heritage. Here you can see traces of ancient volcanoes, touch the history of prehistoric fauna and hear the “voice” of sand dunes.
— Our park is a place where geology, archeology and history are intertwined. We are trying to preserve this heritage and tell people more about it. The park is accessible to both tourists and researchers. It is worth noting that every year the number of people wishing to see all this beauty is growing, emphasizes Nurgul Kozhamseitova.
Earlier it was reported that in the Altyn-Emel National Park recorded rare appearance of a snow leopard. The predator was caught on camera while walking around the area.
