Altyn Emel National Park

Altyn Emel National Park is part of Kazakhstan’s famous ‘Golden Trail’, which also includes Charyn Canyon National Park and Kolsai Lakes National Park. Altyn Emel is located in the southernmost part of Kazakhstan, 250 km from Almaty. The national park covers an area of over 4600 square kilometres and is known for its diverse landscapes, mountains, deserts and oasis.

The park is divided into three main zones: the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, the Katutau Mountains and the Singing Dunes. The Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is home to a variety of plants and animals, including the endangered Saiga antelope. The Katutau Mountains are a range of mountains that run through the park and offer stunning views of the surrounding area. The Singing Dunes are a series of sand dunes that make a humming sound when the wind blows over them. The largest dune is 1.5km long and 120m high.

The park was established in 1996 with the aim of preserving a natural park complex, as well as archaeological and historical monuments. It is the largest nature reserve in Kazakhstan.

Altyn Emel National Park is a popular destination for tourists. There are a number of hiking trails and camping areas in the park, as well as a visiting traditional villages. The park is also home to a number of historical and cultural sites, including the ruins of an ancient city and a petroglyph site.

The park is dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered plant and animal species. The flora of the park includes 1,800 plant species, including 69 rare species. There are also 56 animal species in the park that are considered rare, including argali, dziggetai and Persian gazelle. Not counting insects and fish, Altyn-Emel is home to at least 260 different species.

There are endangered amphibians, including the Siberian toad, and rare and endangered birds, including the black stork and the imperial eagle. Of the 78 species of mammals, 11 are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, including stone marten, polecat, otter, manul (wild cat), wild ass, gazelle, argali, Asian barbastelle bat, Bukhara deer, lynx and Tien Shan brown bear. Kulan and Przewalski horses also live in the park. The flora includes old white and black saxaul, small groves of ironwood (Caucasian frame) and Sievers apple trees.

The oasis of Kosbastau, consisting of a grove of trees with a warm radon spring, is situated in the plain between the Ulken-Kalkan Mountains in the west and the Katytau Mountains in the east. A natural monument – a 700-year-old willow – grows near the hunter’s cordon. The exact age of the tree was determined by studying its trunk, thick branches and roots. The willow was discovered during geological work in 1960. The monument is on the list of specially protected natural areas with the status of a nature protection and scientific institution under the care of the Altyn-Emel National Park Administration.

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