Travel advice in Central Asia.

“Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes by making them the fruit of his character”

Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Tourist-heavy area in Kazakhstan.

The small gorge Shamalgan is near the Kaskelen gorge, approximately in 10 kilometers on the East. This gorge is a little visited by tourists, the highway reaches only its beginning. To reach there to by country bus 335 which goes to the settlement of Zhandosov.
It is necessary to go out of the bus in the settlement before the bus turns down, and to go up the road, at first on the settlement, then on the wide waste ground, a river Shamalgan cone. Soon the road will lead to a barrier and the bridge.
It is not necessary to pass through the river. Recently on the left river bank the magnificent rest house was constructed. On the right river bank there is a good track which allows to bypass rest house. There is further a bridge on which it is possible to pass to a track on the left coast.
Tracks go on gorge slopes at the basis or on the floodplain of the river. It is possible to recommend to climb the gorge on one track, and to go down on the way back - on another. It will be so expensive more various and interesting.
Through the river it is possible to ford, and it is possible also on the bridge which is located kilometers in three from the beginning of the gorge. Slopes of the gorge are covered with generally steppe vegetation, trees (generally wild apricot and a hawthorn) grow at places.
In the floodplain of the river vegetation is richer: here sites of the dense deciduous wood alternate with different herbs meadows and bushes. From forest breeds willows, an apple-tree, an ash-tree, a wild apricot, a maple, a sea-buckthorn are most usual.
Bushes consist of a dogrose, a honeysuckle, a meadowsweet. On slopes there are a lot of picturesque rocks. The gorge in the spring, during blossoming of crocuses, tulips, irises, a ferul, desert-candles, wild peonies and many other plants is especially beautiful. Interestingly, tulips here of 5 types, and they blossom much earlier, than in the neighborhood of Almaty.
The gorge is rich with animals, especially insects and spiders. Large animals are not enough here. The number of wild animals, as well as everywhere in Zailiysky of Ala-Tau, now very low, they it is very careful. Fauna of birds too not rich.
The entomologist will find for himself a lot of interesting here. There are numerous butterflies. On the earth and on plants, especially on flowers various bugs, bugs, cicadas, wasps, bees, ants, flies and many other insects meet.
At all seasons of the year the amateur photographer will find interesting and beautiful objects and plots for photographing here. In the gorge there are not enough people. It allows to breathe fresh air, to enjoy communication with the nature, it is good to have a rest from city bustle.
The gorge is interesting to fans of the nature, to quiet outdoor recreation.

Authority:
V. L. Kazenas, A. B. Zhdanko. A photo album "On Zailiskiy Alatau".

Photos
Alexander Petrov.