The famous Ustyurt plateau is located in Central Asia, occupies a vast territory with an area of almost 200 thousand square meters. m. Moreover, the borders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and a small section of Turkmenistan pass through it. Actually, the name “Ustyurt” in the Turkic version of the translation sounds like a “plateau”.
Wonderful natural creation
Geological scientists suggest that since the emergence of the plateau has passed at least 20 million years ago. However, only at the end of the last century, in the 80s, the scientific world became interested in Ustyurt. The expedition to the Ustyurt plateau was repeatedly organized. People wanted to gather as much information as possible about this magnificent place.
The neighbors of a giant natural creation are:
- on the western side - the Mangyshlak Peninsula and Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay (translated as "Black Maw");
- in the east - the Aral Sea irrevocably drying up, the delta of the Amu Darya River .
Bozzira
The dimensions of the Ustyurt plateau are impressive, in different places its height is from 180 to 300 meters. Sometimes steep 350-meter ledges come across - chinks that rise above the adjacent plain.
The southwestern part of the plateau called Bozzira is considered the highest. It consists of stony ridges, hills (ridges) with almost even outlines. The area of Bozzira is incredibly beautiful, it can compete with the famous Monument Valley (USA). The only thing that distinguishes these amazing corners of the planet from each other is attendance by tourists. Unfortunately, few of them have heard of the existence of this pearl of Ustyurt. It is worth exploring Kazakhstan on a map of mountain ranges in order to assess the extent of this place.
The distant past of the plateau
More than 21 million years ago, the plateau was deep under water. In that distant era on Earth, there were two huge continents - Laurasia and Gondwana. They were separated by the Tethys Ocean. The disappearance of the ancient sea, which was an integral part of the ocean, occurs in the first half of the Cenozoic. The pace of this process accelerated about 2 million years ago, after the Caspian and Black Seas separated.
Seashells are found in the limestone of Ustyurt , which confirms the hypothesis. In addition, there is a huge amount of ferromanganese nodules that resemble billiard balls in size and shape. Not everyone will guess that the spherical formations scattered over the entire surface of the plateau are formed under sea conditions. The water gradually eroded the dolomite and limestone rocks, but ferromanganese nodules showed stronger, only found a rounded shape. I can’t believe that the Ustyurt plateau is located in Kazakhstan. Locals are proud of this attraction.
Indescribable beauty
The relief with a flat surface is a desert. Clay predominates in some places in the soil, in others - a clay-rocky surface. In addition, there are areas of sand or with small gravel. The desert is replaced by cracks or rocks, consisting mainly of chalk. Involuntarily captures the feeling that you are on the surface of a lifeless planet or are present on the set of a Hollywood movie of the same format. Ustyurt Plateau attracts the attention of many tourists and photographers who are engaged in shooting landscapes.
The true beauty of the chalk cliffs appears when the sun rises or sets. At these moments, a beautiful sight opens up: the rays usually give the white rocks reddish hues. At noon they become slightly bluish. If you appreciate natural attractions, then be sure to visit the Ustyurt plateau (Kazakhstan).
Representatives of the flora and fauna inhabiting the plateau
Regarding flora and fauna, the following should be noted. There is nothing that could surprise a tourist. Representatives of the plant world such as wormwood and saxaul dominate. In a more favorable spring period, which does not last long, flowers appear and the picture becomes brighter.
The animal world is more diverse. There are all those species that have adapted to life in the steppes and deserts. The climatic conditions on the plateau favor reptiles, which are represented by lizards, snakes and turtles. Small rodents (jerboa, ground squirrel, woodchuck, woodchuck, gerbil), hedgehogs and hares settled well. This is despite the fact that each of them is a potential prey for a wolf, fox or caracal. Cheetah feels pretty good, which is a rare species, and therefore protected by law. Shy saigas are considered the pride of Ustyurt. Unfortunately, their population is in critical condition. Of the artiodactyls, argali are also found.
Vultures and eagles froze in majestic poses on the rocks of the chink, proudly watching everything that happens below on the plain. There are birds that are familiar to Europeans - pigeons and sparrows. Mostly inhabited by the plateau Ustyurt snakes. Therefore, tourists should be careful when strolling through rocky terrain.
Another feature of the Ustyurt plateau is the large number of feral horses. Once upon a time, nomadic Kazakhs were breeding these domestic animals on the local farms.
Water and winds
Water on the plateau is considered a deficit, as natural bodies of water have long disappeared. All rivers and lakes managed to dry. In ancient times dry channels and salt marshes testify to their existence. The winds in Ustyurt have complete freedom, because there are no natural barriers in the form of mountains and forests on the plateau.
This affects the state of karst rocks, leads to soil erosion, which, in turn, leads to a gradual change in the boundaries of the Ustyurt plateau itself.
Mysteries around the area
During the Middle Ages, Ustyurt was on the path of caravans that departed from the city of Khorezm, and then moved to settlements on the shores of the Caspian Sea and the lower Volga River. In other words, the Great Silk Road passed through it . There are many artifacts that confirm that trading people very often visited the plateau. This, for example, the remains of cemeteries and underground temples. Settled settlements, even cities with visiting yards for caravans (caravanserais) and with all the infrastructure. The ruins of one of such cities called Shahr-i-Wazir remained in good condition.
In the late 70s of the last century, an airplane flying over a plateau carried out aerial photography. Mysterious images were revealed on the surface of the plateau, something like arrowheads directed to the northeast. The figures of a triangular shape are quite impressive in size, their sides reach 100 meters in length. Unknown masters used chipped stone to create giant "arrows" on the ground. Apparently, some sacred meaning is laid in them. Scientists have not yet given a clear and unambiguous answer to this question.
Near each corner in the earth dug holes. They may have retained water. In addition to these “arrows”, other figures were later discovered, in particular warriors, pyramids and turtles, which are also made of stone. “Arrows” on the plateau can be safely attributed to the same category of mysteries of history as the famous images in the Nazca desert.
Be sure to visit Ustyurt when you come to Kazakhstan. On a map of the area you can see exactly where this natural attraction is located.