Charyn canyon and Ash-tree Grove
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Where is it
Charyn canyon (entry gate to the “Valley of Castle”) is located 195km to the East from Almaty, it takes up to 3.5 hours to drive there. The Ash Tree Grove located a bit further to the east (230km from Almaty), in the lower reaches of Charyn River.
Valley of Castle: 43.35241, 79.06924
FREE GUIDE-BOOK WITH MAPS
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What to do
- hiking by the canyons: Zhabyr (Yellow) or Bestamak (Red) cliffs
- camping inside an Ash Tree Grove
- rafting by Charyn River
- take great pictures of the Fairyland of Charyn
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How to get there
By A351 road, and after Kokpek by A352 to the east from Almaty (230km). There is a bus connection up to Chilik town, but the best way it to take a Tourist bus directly from Almaty, or a taxi.
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Climate
It is a desert: the best seasons to visit are March-May and September - October. In Spring and Autumn the normal day temperatures are +23..25C, night +5..+15. In Summer period it can be really hot (uncomfortable): up to +40C during a day, +10..+20 in the night. Winter hiking is also available, but it can be cold (-10..-25C).
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What's interesting
The canyon’s most beautiful site, the Valley of Castles with its fantastic sand towers and walls of 150-300m in height. Relict Ash Tree Grove – the last place where Sogd Ash grows.
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Accommodation
- Charyn camping (straw huts near visitor's center)
- Guest house in the Ash Tree Grove
- tent camping |
Charyn National Park is located in the Almaty region, 195 km to the east of Almaty. It includes the basin of the Charyn River with its famous canyons and the relic Ash-tree Grove. Commonly known as “Charyn”, the huge area includes the deep canyon of the Charyn River itself, as well as few lateral gorges named after the tributaries, like Bestamak, Temirlik and Zhabyr.
Most popular lateral canyon is called the Valley of Castles - it reveals to the eye intriguing red sandstone rocks created by two eternal forces of nature – water and time. The height of the vertical walls in this cliff is between 150 and 300 meters, and their shapes are so different! Some formations look like fossilized dinosaurs, the others seem to be the heads of giant wizards. The fantastic towers, sky bridges and other indescribable figures of different colors make you feel walking through the real Fairyland!
The canyon is called after a river “Charyn” (or Sharyn in Kazakh), it is rich in trout. More than 1,500 species of plants, including 17 species in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan live in the valley of Charyn river. It is a home to such rare animals like mountains goats and eagles. 24 species of mammals, 48 species of birds, three species of amphibians, and 14 species of reptiles can be found here. The canyon has very remarkable vegetation - here you will find the "desert tree" saksul and the relict Sogdian ash.
Charyn River valley (as well as most of the Almaty region) is the bottom of the ancient Ili Lake, which existed here millions years ago. For thousands of years, different processes took place around and inside the ancient reservoir - and every era of the lake's life left its mark at the bottom, in the form of a layer. Each layer has its color and features, in each layer different fossils of ancient sea animals and plants can be found. Just be attentive!
After the mountains around Ili Lake began to rise, the waters of the lake began to flow into the lowlands (now Lake Balkhash). The bottom of the lake was exposed, and the remaining water began to cut through the soft silt bottom. This is how the famous Charyn canyons were formed. Later, wind and precipitation worked on them, giving them their modern impressive appearance. Thus, descending any of the Charyn canyons, you dive deeper into the history of our planet!
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Another attraction of Charyn National Park is a famous Ash Tree Grove located in the lower reaches of Charyn river, 230km from Almaty. The grove seems to be the last place (along with Temirlik gorge) where the relict Sughd /Sogdian Ash tree grows (Fraxinus sogdiana). This rare plant needs much of fresh water to survive, so it grows in the small oasis on the riverbanks.
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