Bektau-Ata

Bektau-Ata

Bektau-Ata is a stunning natural wonder in Kazakhstan, located roughly 60 kilometers north of the town of Balkhash and Lake Balkhash. This mystical site is well-known beyond Kazakhstan’s borders, drawing the interest of both tourists and those seeking healing from various ailments.

Nestled amid the Kazakh steppe, this mountainous terrain spans a radius of 5 to 7 kilometers, punctuated by small wooded areas. It stands out starkly against the surrounding steppe with its distinctive flora and microclimate, earning it titles such as “a tract” (due to its unique climate), “pluton” (for geologists, an ancient volcano that never erupted), “mountain,” and a place of mysterious allure. Bektau-Ata is a mountain massif marked by immense rock formations of varied shapes and sizes. Its highest peak, simply called “the Peak,” rises over 1200 meters. Other rock formations, distinguished by their unusual shapes, bear names such as “Chest,” “Snake,” “Turtle,” and “Mushroom.” Historical sources say the mountain’s name translates to “mountain of the holy elder Bek,” who is said to have lived in a cave atop Bektau-Ata.

The pink granite rocks of Bektau-Ata are actually volcanic granite lava that solidified both on the surface and within the earth’s crevices. During the Paleozoic era, at the boundary of the Carboniferous and Permian periods, a large volcano was forming here. It melted the surrounding rocks but never erupted. Instead, a colossal granite plug remained, sealing its throat forever. The volcanic formations are reminiscent of layered cake, or a giant cork closing off the unmanifested volcano’s vent—a leading theory explaining Bektau-Ata’s creation. There is also a local folk legend, however, which tells of an ancient alien base that was destroyed in a cosmic war using powerful lasers.

The granite surface is smooth yet not slippery, making the ascent relatively easy. After a rain, water cascades down Bektau-Ata’s slopes, reflecting sunlight in a way that makes the mountain glisten like a precious gemstone.

Bektau-Ata offers a varied landscape, with picturesque rocks interspersed with small plains where fresh rainwater collects in hollows. Numerous such pools can be found along the path to the mountain’s summit, lasting well into summer. Over centuries, the effects of water, sun, and wind have shaped these fantastical rock formations. Erosion has slowly worn away the softer granite, creating formations with names like “Mushroom,” “Chest,” “Turtle,” and “Trident.” One of the massive formations is called “Sarykuldzha,” meaning “Yellow Argali.”

Photographers flock to Bektau-Ata in the summer, drawn by the unique landscape that offers endless creative angles. Bektau-Ata is especially breathtaking during sunrise and sunset when the changing light and shadows make this fantastic place feel alive, real, and almost sentient. With clouds in the sky, the mountain’s grandeur and beauty leave visitors awestruck.

Bektau-Ata is also home to Auliye-Tas Cave, containing a fresh water spring regarded as sacred by locals, who believe the water has healing properties. Located on the southwestern slope of the mountain’s western cone, the cave entrance lies 600 meters above sea level, opening to a flat ledge roughly 7 meters long and 5 meters wide. Auliye Cave is considered the deepest in Kazakhstan. For the first 15–16 meters, the floor is nearly level before it gently slopes downward. At 29 meters in, water fills the cave’s width, and the ceiling reaches about two meters above the water. The cave’s full length spans approximately 50 meters. Locals have long regarded the cave as sacred; Kazakhs would stay overnight to pray for healing, and women seeking to conceive also visited here, believing that the water’s healing properties would answer their prayers.

Numerous legends surround the name Bektau-Ata. One legend speaks of a holy elder named Bektau-Ata who lived during the Kazakh-Jungar wars. Fleeing his pursuers, he took refuge in the mountain’s largest cave. Dying of thirst, he prayed fervently to the Almighty, who responded by creating a fresh spring deep within the cave. His enemies couldn’t find him, as the cave lies high above, within a sheer rock face.

Another tale tells of the holy elder Bektau-Ata living in a village long ago. One day, enemies attacked the village. The villagers fled but soon encountered a wide river blocking their path. The elder raised his hand, parting the raging waters so the people could cross safely. Once everyone was across, he gestured again, and the waters closed. Then he told the villagers, “This land is yours. I will go to the cave in the mountain. If you ever need anything, come to the cave with your requests, but let no one climb the mountain, for disaster will follow.” Since then, the mountain has been known as Bektau-Ata, or “mountain of the holy elder Bek.”

Bektau-Ata is home to approximately 300 species of meadow and steppe plants, around 50 of which are medicinal. Wild rose, meadowsweet, hawthorn, honeysuckle, and currants can be found here, along with rare species like Kessler’s astragalus and the red-listed Bektau-ata pennycress. Juniper, or Kazakh juniper, grows on the bare rocks. The region also supports a rare creature, the five-toed dwarf jerboa, and argali sheep inhabit the mountains. In the lowlands and steppe areas, saigas, gazelles, and other ungulates roam, pursued by wolves. The wooded areas attract a variety of birds, including doves, orioles, bluethroats, warblers, buntings, and wheatears.

Coordinates to the Bektau-Ata turnoff: 47°20’55.56″N 74°42’45.06″E.

Tourists in Baikonur

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