Sharyn Canyon

Charyn Canyon is a picturesque deep gorge in Kazakhstan, stretching for 154 km along the valley of the Charyn River, near the border with China and Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the places on Earth whose beauty and grandeur take your breath away. Taking into account the size and geological features of the Charyn Canyon, it is often spoken about as a “little brother” of one of the largest gorges of the planet – the American Grand Canyon. The reddish rocks and abysses from 150 to 300 meters deep like fortress towers impress everyone who has been here.

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Video: Charyn Canyon

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Highlights

The long valley has been carved into the rocks by the river, and the wind has worked on the bizarre shapes of the cliffs. To preserve the beauty of the surrounding landscapes, as well as the richness of the local nature, in 2004 around the Charyn Canyon created a nature protection area – Charyn National Park. Travelers coming here are charged an ecological fee. The park is well cared for and there are garbage cans along the trails.

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At the bottom of the canyon flows the Charyn River, which originates on the southern spurs of the Ketmen Range and carries turquoise waters into the Ili River. It is a rapids, fast river, which has a length of 427 km. You can admire the gorge from the river valley and from the equipped observation platforms located above the steep cliffs. Among the most spectacular places are the Valley of Castles, the Stone Sack and the Witches’ Gorge.

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You can get here independently and as part of tour groups. The best time to visit the Charyn Canyon is considered the period from late March to May, as well as the fall months, when the mountains are not so hot. In summer, the air temperature in the canyon area rises to +36…+40 ° C.

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Geological features

The Charyn Canyon was formed on the slopes of the Terskey Alatau. During the Miocene and Pliocene, the river flowing through it flowed into the Ili Lake. Then the water from the lake left, and the Charyn became a left tributary of the Ili River. During the Quaternary Period, which began about 2.5 million years ago, the river cut a deep canyon in the soft sedimentary rocks at the bottom of the dried-up lake. As the Terskey Alatau, Kungai Alatau and Ketmen Range grew, the erosive power of the Charyn increased.

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For lovers of geology and mineralogy, traveling through the Charyn Canyon is a real pleasure! On the exposed mountain strata you can see river and lake sediments of the Neogene period, volcanites of the Permian and Carboniferous periods, as well as granites formed during the Ordovician. And the remains of long extinct animals such as mastodons, elephants, rhinos, hyenas and Stenon’s one-toed horses are found in the cliffs every year.

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Plants and animals in the Charyn Canyon

Isolation and landscape diversity determined the richness of local fauna and flora. On the mountain slopes and the bottom of the gorge grows about 1.5 thousand species of plants, 17 of which are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. On the floodplain terraces of the Charyn and at the bottom of the valley one can find thickets of willow, barberry, pshat, ephedra, tamarisk and chingil. In addition, there is a grove of sisolist turanga in the valley. This is the name given to a species of poplar tree that grows mainly in Central Asia.

In the place where its tributary Temerlik flows into the river, in the Charyn gorge there is a grove of relict plant that managed to survive the Ice Age. This is the Sogdian ash tree, which appeared on Earth 25 million years ago and reaches a height of 10 meters. Surprisingly, trees of this species are found only on the territory of North America. In 1964, the area of the Sogdian ash tree received the status of a natural monument “Charyn Ash Forest Dacha”. And along the grove stretches a chain of ancient burial mounds.

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There are 62 species of mammals living in the gorge. Here you can meet foxes, gazelles, Siberian ibexes, hares, marmosets, gophers, ermine and stone martens. The Charyn Canyon has become home to 25 species of reptiles and 3 species of amphibians, and on its slopes ornithologists have counted more than a hundred species of birds.

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Castle Valley

The most spectacular part of the Charyn Canyon, stretching for 2 km and reaching a width of 20 to 80 meters, is called the Valley of Castles. Red-orange rocks really resemble fairy-tale buildings. And they make a particularly strong impression at sunrise, during sunset, as well as in the ghostly moonlight. There is almost no vegetation in the Valley of Castles. On a hot summer day, the air in the canyon can heat up to +40 ° C, so tourists use the saving shade of the rocks for rest.

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Some remnants resemble the faces and figures of people, others look like slender towers and fortress walls. Around them there is a whole network of small gullies and ravines. Having visited this place, it is easy to feel how small man is before the forces of nature and how fleeting time is.

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Tips for tourists

Charyn Canyon is located in an arid area, so all travelers are recommended to take drinking water – at least 1.5-2 liters per person. It will not be superfluous to bring food.

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At the beginning of the gorge for the convenience of tourists created an eco-park, on the territory of which are placed gazebos, as well as stoves and cauldrons for cooking. Nearby are several 2-3-bed bungalows, where you can stay for a few hours or overnight. Those who want to feel the real Asian flavor can stay in 8-seat Kazakh felt yurts. The closest hotels to the Charyn Canyon are located in the villages of Baiseit (75 km) and Chunja (50 km).

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A hat and dark glasses will reliably protect you from overheating and bright sunlight. It is also a good idea to use sunscreen. The terrain around the canyon is stony, so you should wear sturdy comfortable shoes.

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There are certain restrictions and rules in the Charyn National Park. On its territory is not allowed to collect plants and geological samples, hunting and fishing. And making fires is allowed only in equipped tourist parking lots.

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How to get there

Charyn Canyon lies to the east of the city of Almaty. You can reach it by car along the highway A-351 (224 km). Almost all along it is not a bad road, and only the last 10 km are laid on a dirt road, where you have to slow down. The way from Almaty to Charyn canyon takes 3.15-3.30 hours. The road bumps into the booth of the national park’s KP, whose employees collect money for visiting the Charyn Canyon.

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It is possible to go down to the Valley of Castles only by off-road vehicles. Those who come here in simple cars, leave them at the top and travel through the canyon on the trail.

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In Almaty they sell weekend tours and take tourists to the Charyn Canyon and back in large tour buses and minibuses. During the trip, the guide talks a lot about the natural attractions, the work of the national park and local customs. Most tours start in front of the Astana International hotel. They are designed for a full day and last 12-13 hours, including the road to the canyon and back.

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In addition, you can get to the canyon by cab from Sayakhat Station (15 Suyunbay Street). From here there are shuttle buses to Kegan village. It is necessary to agree in advance with the driver to stop near the turn to the Charyn canyon. From the fork to the beginning of the descent into the gorge it is necessary to walk about 10 km along the steppe. On weekends there is a lot of traffic on the dirt road, and it is quite possible to catch a hitchhiker.

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