The main idea of creating national parks in Kazakhstan, as in other countries of the world, is the preservation of unique wildlife and the opportunity to see it for everyone who is interested in local history and natural history and prefers active recreation. The first object of this type appeared on the map of the country in 1985.
Golden dozen
By 2015, twelve national parks had been created in Kazakhstan, and three more were in the process of being organized. Tourists consider the most interesting of them:
- Ile-Alatau. Organized in 1996, it preserves the unique landscapes of the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountain system.
- Bayanaulsky. The oldest national park in Kazakhstan is the magnificent landscapes of the mountain range of the same name and four freshwater lakes, on the shores of which beaches and places for summer recreation are equipped.
- Katon-Karagaysky. The largest park in the country in terms of its territory is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Kolsai lakes. Famous for a variety of flora and fauna. More than 700 species of representatives of flora and almost 500 - fauna of Kazakhstan are protected in this natural reserve.
To the singing dunes
Typical Kazakh landscapes - steppes, semi-deserts, rocks and mountain rivers - welcome visitors to the Altyn-Emel Park. Almost half a million hectares are occupied by this specially protected object on the western spurs of the Dzhungarskiy Alatau mountain range.
A safari is organized for the guests of the park, during which there is a chance to meet the best representatives of the local fauna - gazelles and mountain partridges. argali and wolves, kulans and golden eagles. The attraction of the park is the singing dune, which stretches for three kilometers along the Bolshoi Kalkan Mountain.
You can stay in one of four hotels or a tent city. When buying a license, it is possible to organize hunting for mountain boars and pheasants.
Pearl of the Tien Shan
The Kolsai Lakes National Park of Kazakhstan is often compared to a priceless pearl necklace. The crystal clear mountain reservoirs are surrounded by coniferous forests, in which there are representatives of the Red Book - a blue bird, argali, Tien Shan bear and even a snow leopard.
The tourist infrastructure of the park includes campings and guest houses, and the most popular among tourists is the 25-kilometer trail connecting all three Kolsai lakes through the Sary-Bulak pass with Issyk-Kul. The hiking route will take three days, and the distance can be covered by horse in a day.
Stone zoo
There are many attractions in the Bayanaul National Park of Kazakhstan, among which the most famous are bizarre stones. A camel and a mammoth, a gorilla and a dove, even a dinosaur can be found walking in the park. There are also organized beaches and summer recreation areas with catamarans and boats for rent.
