Nature panoramas from Marble Pass on Akzhayalyau – Markakol Road.

“From Nikolaevka we turned onto a path, and from here we entered the area of mountain ranges through the Derele Gorge. The rocks of this gorge are bluish in color, which makes it seem as if it is all covered with transparent smoke. Clouds gathered in the sky, it began to drizzle, and it continued until the evening. The mountains became steeper, the paths narrower and more dangerous, especially during the rain. The horses slipped, often fell, and we moved very slowly. In one particularly steep place, the horse with the pack could not climb up.”

“Excursion to Altai by pupils of Semipalatinsk Girls’ Gymnasium in 1909.” N. Mordvinova.

Trip through Marble Pass to village of Urunkhaika.

Marble Pass, 1,371.1 meters above sea level, is located in southeastern spurs of Asutau Range, between southeastern part of Derelbiigy Mountains and in southwestern part of Karamola Range, in Markakol District of East Kazakhstan Region.
Section of road from village of Markakol to Marble Pass (20 km).
The Markakol Pass connects the village of Markakol (former names Alekseyevka, Terekty) with the western and southwestern parts of Lake Markakol and the village of Urunkhaika. The length of the road from the village of Markakol to the Marble Pass is 20 kilometers.
8 kilometers from the village of Markakol to the right of the road is the small village of Nikolaevka, before the village the road crosses a bridge over the Verkhnyaya Terekty River. After 15 kilometers from the village, the mountain serpentines of the road begin, passing which the pass is reached.
In the vicinity of the serpentines, the road passes the south-eastern part of the Derelbiigy Mountains. In the Derel tract, 15 kilometers from the village there is a small pass 855 meters above sea level. After 19 kilometers, the altitude on the road becomes 1257 meters above sea level.
Section of road from Marble Pass to village of Akzhalau (14 km).
After the Marble Pass, the road gradually descends into the valley of the Alkabek River and soon reaches a small, weakly expressed Akalbek Pass 1453.2 meters above sea level. After the pass, the road runs along the southwestern slope of the Sonali ridge and soon begins the swampy valley of the Sarkyrama River in the northwestern part of which is the village of Akzhaylau, formerly Uspenovka.
The distance from the Marble Pass to the village of Akzhaylau is 14 kilometers. 

“We spent a long time with it; it became completely dark, and we decided to spend the night on the mountain, 13 miles from the village of Ak-Dzhailau. The rain stopped, but since everything was wet, we could not light a fire for a long time and were very cold. Only by midday the next day did we reach Ak-Dzhailau. Ak-Dzhailau lies in a wide hollow; the village was recently built and the houses still smelled of fresh resinous wood. We were here for a short time. We drank some milk and supplied the peasants with medicines, which we had in abundance. Here the peasants suffer from various diseases and do not have the opportunity to be treated, since their village is very far from medical centers.”

“Excursion to Altai by pupils of Semipalatinsk Girls' Gymnasium in 1909.” N. Mordvinova.

Drive along the pass is a gravel, well-rolled road, winding between slopes crowned with mixed forests, sections of rock scree and open views of the mountain valleys.
Name and natural features of Marble Pass.
The pass received its name for a reason. On its slopes there is an abundance of marbled rocks - light gray, whitish or with a green tint, sparkling in the sun. 1.8 kilometers to the south of the pass is Mount Mramornaya, 1398.3 meters above sea level.
Local residents and drivers have long nicknamed this part of the road "Marble". In spring and summer, the road here is often washed out by streams breaking through rock scree, which makes driving through the pass difficult, especially on spring and autumn days and in rainy weather.
The pass offers a view to the south on Chinese territory, the Akkum sands and the mountains in the southeast of Kyzyl-Ashikezen are clearly visible. It is interesting to observe the dunes and sands from the taiga zone and the mountain heights of Altai.
The views from the pass are majestic: in the distance you can see the spurs of the Azutau ridge, the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Altai and the dark ribbons of the taiga. Alpine meadows can be seen on both sides of the road.
Tourism and importance of Marble Pass.
The Marble Pass is an important section of the route for tourists heading to Lake Markakol, especially by land routes. It is part of one of the key transport corridors of the Markakol Nature Reserve and is used by both local residents and travelers heading towards the lake and further into the Bukhtarma Valley.
In the warm season, you can go through the pass not only by SUV, but also on foot, this is a wonderful route for a medium-difficulty hike, especially in the summer, when mountain flowers cover the slopes with a carpet, and the sky is reflected in the puddles on the road.
Important to know about Marble Pass.
In winter, the pass may be closed due to snow drifts and avalanche danger. Communication in the area of the pass is unstable, it is better to have a GPS device or pre-downloaded maps. It is recommended to have off-road equipment or an experienced driver in bad weather.
The Marble Pass is located in the border zone, so you must have with you: for citizens of Kazakhstan - an identity card, for foreign citizens - a passport. At a small checkpoint before the pass from the village of Markakol and further, border guards record passing cars and their documents, so at the checkpoint you must stop and present your documents to the border patrol.
The Marble Pass is not just a section of road, but a borderline between the human world and natural silence, between the noise of the village and the silence of a protected lake. Here, among the marble rocks and mountain streams, a person seems to become a part of great nature again - in its pristine beauty and freedom.
Geographical coordinates of Marble Pass: N48°30'06 E85°53'15

Authority and photos:
Alexander Petrov.