Mangystau – The “Treasure” Peninsula

Mangystau is a remarkable region in the southwest of Kazakhstan, bordered on the west by the Caspian Sea. Why can it be called a treasure peninsula?
First, it holds material treasures: the richest oil fields, deposits of uranium and rare earth elements, manganese, mineral salts, chalk, shell limestone, and more.
Second, it’s a land of incredible, “alien” landscapes of cyclopean scale, whose beauty attracts more and more tourists each year.
Main Attractions and Scenic Areas of Mangystau:

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Bozzhyra – the calling card of Mangystau. A vast depression, or rather the bottom of an ancient ocean, with sheer cliffs and grand chalk towers known as buttes.
Valley of Castles (Ayrakty / Sherkala) – a group of butte-like mountains whose walls resemble man-made structures.
Torysh – “Valley of Stone Balls” – a scattering of thousands of massive spherical boulders (concretions), some over 3 meters in diameter.
Tuzbair Salt Flat – a giant salt lake with stunningly beautiful steep white chalk cliffs.
Karagiye Depression (132 meters below sea level) – the lowest point in the former USSR.
Ybykty Canyon – a picturesque gorge with “lace-like” walls made of white limestone.
Kyzylkup (Tiramisu) – a valley of layered red-and-white hills resembling pastries.
Zhygylygan – a massive sinkhole formed by karst rock collapse.
Underground Mosques Carved into Rock – Beket-Ata, Shakpak-Ata, Sultan-Epe – pilgrimage sites for believers from across Kazakhstan.
Two thousand years ago, the Great Silk Road passed through Mangystau from south to north and further northwest, across the Ustyurt Plateau, through the Shetpe Gates to the Caspian coast.
Scenic Caspian Coastline – with many kilometers of sandy beaches.
All journeys begin in the region’s capital – the extraordinary city of Aktau.