Mangystau State Historical and Cultural Reserve

Founded in 1980, the Mangystau State Historical and Cultural Reserve was established to preserve the remarkable historical, architectural, and natural landmarks of the Mangystau region, located along the Caspian Sea coast in western Kazakhstan. Mangystau is a cradle of ancient civilization, an open-air archaeological sanctuary rich in natural and historical treasures.

Today, the reserve has identified over 14,000 culturally and historically significant sites, with ongoing research leading to the discovery and registration of new monuments each year. The official registers of historical, archaeological, and architectural monuments are annually updated with new additions.

The reserve’s key focus areas include identifying, documenting, researching, and officially registering monuments; overseeing restoration efforts; conducting archaeological research; and promoting public awareness and education.

The Mangystau Reserve spans the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan, covering roughly 165,000 square kilometers. It includes the Mangyshlak Peninsula and parts of the Ustyurt Plateau, as well as the Buzachi Peninsula. Currently, 449 monuments are under state protection, including 196 architectural and urban monuments, 253 archaeological sites, and 21 landmarks of national significance.

Mangystau’s climate is sharply continental, with harsh, snowless winters and prolonged, intense summers. Precipitation is rare year-round, and fresh water sources are limited, contributing to a sparse plant and animal life. In this semidesert landscape, species such as the Ustyurt mouflon, gazelles, saigas, foxes, wolves, and hares can still be found.

The landscape of Mangystau is extraordinary and unique. Many hundreds of millions of years ago, this area lay beneath the ocean. The peninsula’s topography and the escarpments of the Ustyurt Plateau emerged around 25 million years ago from tectonic shifts and the retreating ocean waters. Chalk canyons, whimsical mountain remnants, fields of spherical concretions, and endless salt flats and sand dunes create the famed “lunar landscapes” of the reserve. Striking contrasts characterize this region; for example, scorched deserts give way to lush canyon oases, and the black peaks of the Karatau Mountains stand near the white outcrops of the Aktaus.

Nature itself is the central attraction of the Mangystau Reserve, offering a stunning array of geological and natural monuments.

• Mountains: The legendary Sherkala Mountain, a prominent symbol of the region, lies 180 km from Aktau and is part of the Karatau range. This 308-meter mountain, which resembles a colossal yurt, formed as ancient seabeds emerged. Another notable feature is Ayrakty Mountain, known as the “Valley of Castles” for its enchanting, castle-like formations. Bokty Mountain, 250 km from Aktau, stands out with its layered colors—white, yellow, red, transitioning to greenish-gray—creating an unforgettable visual spectacle. Zhygylgan, called the “Earth’s Collapse,” is a massive geological landslide, with limestone slabs bearing the ancient traces of sabretooth cats and three-toed horses from 10–15 million years ago.

• Valleys: The mysterious Torish Valley, known for its scattered spherical concretions of uncertain origin, captivates with mushroom-shaped stone formations. Bozjyra Valley, marked by two towering limestone “Fangs of Bozjyra,” leaves a lasting impression even on seasoned travelers. Tamshaly Valley features scenic canyons with freshwater springs, an ancient hub where kurgans and necropolises bear traces of early human activity. Saura Valley holds the jewel of the Mangyshlak Peninsula—a freshwater lake and waterfall, with remnants of ancient forts and tombs along its cliffs.

• Gorges: Mangystau is rich in gorges with mountain springs, such as the picturesque Samal Gorge, which remains a lush refuge even in the height of summer. Akmysh Gorge, a refreshing mountain valley with springs, reveals remnants of medieval fortifications in the ruins of the Kyzylkala settlement.

• Depressions: The Karagiye Depression, located 50 km from Aktau, is one of the world’s deepest at 132 meters below sea level, with a sprawling salt flat at its base. The Karinjaryk Depression, 450 km from Aktau, stretches over 70 km, and during heavy rains, transforms into a vast salt mirror that reflects the sky and surrounding formations. The Tuzbair Salt Flat, at the base of the Ustyurt Plateau’s steep chalk cliffs, is another iconic sight.

Mangystau is home to the remains of four medieval settlements, including the Altinkazgan burial complex and the Saura Fortress. Among the most significant sites is the Kyzylkala settlement, a likely large trading city built by the Khwarezmians in the 10th century and abandoned in the 13th century after the Khwarezm Empire’s fall to the Mongols.

Architectural Monuments

The region is famous for its underground mosques and mausoleums, including the Kobren, Shopan-Ata, Karaman-Ata, Sultan-Epe, and Shakpak-Ata mosques. Shakpak-Ata, carved directly into a rock monolith, is particularly celebrated for its preservation and beauty. The mosque of Becket-Ata, a revered pilgrimage site, is considered a sacred place where believers receive blessings for their journey to Mecca. This site, located in Oglandy, draws pilgrims year-round.

Museum Exhibition

Given the reserve’s extensive and often remote terrain, a permanent exhibit, Monuments of Mangystau, opened in Aktau in September 2007, showcasing the region’s archaeological and architectural history. It features two halls—one archaeological and one historical-architectural—allowing locals and tourists alike to appreciate the distant and diverse treasures of Mangystau.

The reserve also offers rotating thematic exhibitions:

• The Cult of Fire: Celebrating traditional holidays.
• Mangystau Petroglyphs: Highlighting archaeological research.
• Open-Air Museum: Documenting Mangystau’s architectural and archaeological monuments.
• Sacred Sites of Mangystau: Presenting ancient and modern shrines.
• Sisem-Ata Necropolis: Detailing necropolis studies.
• Medieval Kyzylkala: Exploring medieval trade in Mangystau.
• Mangystau Archaeological Research 2014–2015: Featuring Bronze Age research, the Saura Fortress, the Altinkazgan sanctuary, and the medieval Ketik-kala settlement.
• Breathtaking Nature of the Peninsula: Celebrating Mangystau’s natural wonders.