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The Collected Works of Chokan Chingisovich Valikhanov / Notes of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, Department of Ethnography, Volume XXIX. St. Petersburg, 1904.

In 1856, the first Kazakh scientist, ethnographer, and educator Shokan Valikhanov (Walikhanov) (1835–1865) embarked on his legendary expedition to Kashgaria. His route passed through the Uyghentas and Altyn-Emel passes, where he left some of the earliest scientific descriptions of the Ili Basin’s nature.

From the scientist's travel notes:

"The beautiful weather favored our journey; we traveled to the Altyn-Emel picket through the picturesque valleys of the Alatau foothills. The fields were bright with orange tulips and oriental poppies, and yellow birds swayed on the long stems of white mallow."

A special place in his essays is given to the description of a campsite in the sands between the Kalkan Mountains — now a popular tourist site known as the Walikhanov Spring. However, in 1856, staying overnight there was a true ordeal:

"...we spent the night by a spring in the sands, finding ourselves in a hollow that teemed with snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions... we could not forget that cursed campsite for a long time".

The grave and museum of Sh. Walikhanov are located in the village of Shankhanai, 10 km from the Altyn-Emel National Park.

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• Walikhanov Spring

Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky (1827–1914) was a prominent scientist and statesman. For his fundamental research on the Tien Shan ("Heavenly Mountains"), he was granted the honorary title — Tyan-Shansky.

During his expeditions, Semyonov visited the territory of the modern Altyn-Emel National Park, becoming one of the first researchers to provide a scientific description of the Katutau and Aktau mountains.

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• Katutau Mountains
• Aktau Mountains

In 1878, the researcher and naturalist Nikolai Przewalski, returning from his second Central Asian expedition, obtained the hide and skull of a wild horse at the Zaisan post. The materials were presented to him by local hunters through the merchant A. Tikhonov.

In St. Petersburg, zoologist Ivan Polyakov's research proved that the specimen belonged to a species previously unknown to science. In 1881, Polyakov published the first scientific description of the wild horse, naming the species in honor of its discoverer — Przewalski's horse.

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• Mammals in Altyn-Emel

The region's name is linked to the expedition of Alexander Vlangali (1824–1908). Between 1849 and 1851, the geographer and diplomat traveled through the Dzhungarian Alatau and the Ili Valley.

In the accounts of his research, Vlangali was the first to introduce the term "Semirechye" (Land of Seven Rivers) into scientific use. He compiled a survey of the region, gathering data on the valleys of its seven primary rivers: the Ili, Karatal, Aksu, Lepsy, Bien, Koksu, and Ayaguz.

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• Waters in Altyn-Emel

Between 1840 and 1843, the traveler and naturalist Alexander von Schrenk conducted a series of expeditions to Semirechye. His work resulted in an extensive botanical archive, identifying dozens of new plant species that now bear his name.

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• Flora of Altyn-Emel

The zoologist and traveler Nikolai Severtzov made a significant contribution to the study of Central Asian fauna. During numerous expeditions to Semirechye, he gathered extensive scientific data. Several animal species inhabiting this region are named in his honor.

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• Theriofauna of Altyn-Emel Park
• Ichthyofauna of Altyn-Emel Park

Mushketov, I. V. Turkestan. Geological and Orographic Description based on data collected during travels from 1874 to 1880. St. Petersburg, 1906.

Russian geologist and geographer Ivan Mushketov (1850–1902) conducted systematic research in Central Asia and the Tien Shan beginning in 1873. His works formed the basis for the modern understanding of the geology of the entire Turkestan region.

Mushketov provided a scientific description of the relief and, in 1881 (together with G. D. Romanovsky), compiled the first detailed geological map of Turkestan. He was among the first to undertake a comprehensive geological study of the Dzhungarian Alatau and its adjacent territories.

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• Dzhungarian Alatau Mountains

Eduard von Regel (1815–1892) was a prominent botanist who described over 1,000 plant species. He conducted the first large-scale systematization of Turkestan’s flora by studying collections sent to him by Central Asian explorers.

Albert Regel (1845–1908) was a physician, traveler, and the son of Eduard Regel. During his expeditions through Semirechye and Kulja, he gathered an extensive herbarium that led to the discovery of new species. Many of these plants were named by the father in honor of his son.

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• Rare Plants in Altyn-Emel

Entomologist and lepidopterist Sergei Alpheraky (1850–1918) conducted an expedition to Central Asia and Kulja in 1879. During his research, he collected over 12,000 insect specimens and described dozens of new butterfly species previously unknown to science.

Due to his high reputation as a specialist, Alpheraky was later entrusted with the scientific processing of the entomological collections gathered by Nikolai Przewalski during his major travels across Asia.

You might also be interested in:

• Insects of Altyn-Emel Park