Excursion to Kendyrly-Sai Canyon.

"Here the earth speaks with flowers, telling an ancient story without words".

Journey to Atyzhek and Dolant-Tau Mountains in Almaty Region.

Kendyrly-Sai Canyon - a frozen element of Ili Basin.

Kendyrly-Sai Canyon is located at an altitude of 667 to 1,343 meters above sea level. It lies between Kaishi and Koibyn rivers, between Atyzhek and Erretau mountains to east and Dolantau mountains to west, north of small Syrt mountain range. It is 2 kilometers from right bank of Ili River, 19 kilometers northwest of village of Koktal, and 24.5 kilometers southeast of village of Konyrolen in Panfilov district of  eastern Almaty region.

Geology and origin of Kendyrly-Sai Canyon.

Kendyrly-Sai is located in the eastern part of the Ili Basin and is a natural extension of the "Tiger Mountains", a unique region with Cretaceous and Neogene deposits. These rocks formed in an ancient inland sea, later transformed into a freshwater lake.
The waters receded, and the sedimentary strata were subjected to tectonic movements, erosion, and wind weathering, giving the canyon its characteristic shapes - narrow gorges, ridges, "mushrooms," and ribbed cliffs. The geological composition is represented by conglomerates, sandstones, marls, and gypsum inclusions.
The vibrant color palette of the slopes is the result of the oxidation of iron-bearing minerals, clay layers, and organic remains of ancient flora. The geological structure of Kendyrly-Sai is almost identical to that of the neighboring "Tiger Mountains".
Conglomerates, sandstones, marls, gypsum shales, and clays are found here - sedimentary rocks formed on the bottom of an ancient paleolake, when the entire Ili Basin was a giant body of water. The age of the rocks is estimated at 60-70 million years, meaning they belong to the late Cretaceous and Neogene periods.
The canyon's unique charm is given by its colorful layered outcrops - from deep red and terracotta to yellowish-white, greenish, and purple hues. These natural "sand walls" give the canyon its distinctive tiger-like pattern, earning the entire region the unofficial nickname "Tiger Mountains".
Despite its apparent aridity and lifelessness, Kendyrly-Sai is a living geological record of the region. In some places, fossilized remains of ancient flora can be found, and along the banks of temporary streams, vegetation typical of dry foothill valleys grows.

Modern landscape of Kendyrly-Sai Canyon.

Today, Kendyrly-Sai Canyon is a natural, open-air geological museum, where every layer of earth preserves the memory of distant eras. Here you can observe the finest erosion lines, traces of ancient water flows, and amazing contrasts of light and shadow, making Kendyrly-Sai one of the most striking canyons in southeastern Kazakhstan.
In the spring, streams fed by meltwater flow along its bottom, and in the summer, winds carve patterns from the sandy cliffs - as if continuing the work of time. The canyon's modern appearance began to take shape during the Neogene period, when uplifts and subsidence of the earth's crust caused active dissection of the surface and the formation of numerous ravines and valleys.
Under the influence of wind and temporary water flows, the soft sedimentary rocks gradually eroded, creating picturesque ledges, slopes, and cliffs with intricately jagged shapes. Today, Kendyrly-Sai is of interest not only to geologists but also to travelers, photographers, and artists. Its colorful faults, quiet gorges, and the play of light on the slopes create a rare atmosphere of pristine nature - like a landscape from the prehistoric era.

Kendirly-Sai is a place of power.

This canyon is more than just a geological formation. It is perceived as a place of power, where antiquity and modernity, movement and peace, meet. Standing on the edge of its ledges, one can sense the vitality of nature on the ancient Earth, where millions of years ago seas roared and dinosaurs trod, and now silence and wind reign.
1.6 kilometers to west of Kendyrly-Sai. is a canyon with a dry riverbed, “Tiger Mountains» massif.

Geographic coordinates of Kendyrly-Sai Canyon are: N44°15'11 E79°34'15

Authority and photos by:
Alexander Petrov.