The volcanic mountains of Katutau (Katutau means "frozen" or "severe mountains" in Kazakh) are one of the attractions of the Altyn-Emel National Park.
Katutau are the largest and highest desert mountains in Altyn-Emel, with the upper limit reaching 1630 meters. The Katutau lava mountains are the result of intense volcanic activity in the region. The frozen lava of the volcano has acquired bizarre forms here, becoming a unique natural monument.
Location
The Katutau Mountains are located in the eastern part of the Altyn-Emel National Park, south of the Dzhungarian Alatau ridge, 47 km from the village of Basshi, 25 km from the Aktau mountains.
The length of the Katutau mountains from east to west is 40 km, from north to south - 25-30 km.
Landform
Areas without vegetation are being intensively eroded.
In the middle part of the Katutau ridge, there is a large extinct volcano. The products of its powerful eruptions occupied a large area and subsequently eroded, taking on bizarre shapes.
"Katutau" translates from Kazakh as "harsh mountains," which is quite fitting, given the harsh continental climate of this area and the severe appearance of the landscape.
There is another translation of the word "katu" - "freeze," which can also be applied to these mountains with numerous remains of frozen volcanic lava.
Tourist Attraction
The Katutau mountains are a popular tourist attraction of the Altyn-Emel National Park. Tourists usually visit Katutau on their way to the Aktau cretaceous mountains or on their way back.
Photographers are attracted by islands of solidified volcanic lava. Depending on the lighting, they can look like fantastic figures, silhouettes of animals.
The Katutau mountains are the habitat of argali, kulans and gazelles. Once (in the 1950-1980s) the snow leopard also lived here.
Alert
- The park is open for visiting only during the daytime, during daylight hours.
- The pass is issued either remotely or at the national park office in the village of Basshi.
- There is almost no mobile communication in the park and the Internet does not work.
- The road along Route 3 is gravelly soil (chatter bumps), dusty and bad, causing strong vibration.
- The section of the road to the Katutau mountains is the worst and is rarely graded.
Arba Travel offers accommodation and tourist services in the Altyn-Emel National Park.
We are based in the village of Basshi near the central office of the Altyn-Emel National Park.
We have our own tourist transport and the largest Caravansarai campsite with stationary and mobile caravans, a Kazakh yurt and a spacious guesthouse in a large country estate for comfortable stay in Basshi.
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