Location
The Kosbastau Oasis is located east of the Big Kalkan Mountain, en route to the Katutau and Aktau Mountains.
Distance from the village of Basshi: 28 km.
Distance from Almaty: about 280 km.
Oasis in the Desert
In the middle of the Kosbastau Oasis is a small picturesque pond.
Kosbastau is one of the sites of groundwater outflow. The floodplain terraces of the Ili River begin relatively nearby. The desert here is clayey, formed under conditions of permanent or temporary groundwater in an arid climate. Therefore, riparian (floodplain) vegetation predominates here: cheegrass, salt tree, eleagnus, Ili barberry, niterbush, tamarisk, southern reed and the tugai poplar turanga.
700-Year-Old Willow
Several old trees grow in Kosbastau. The largest of them, 20 meters tall, has a trunk circumference of 15 meters.
The tree's age is estimated at approximately 700 years. Since ancient times, the cult of old trees has been widespread in Central Asia; they are considered sacred and must not be harmed in any way.
Radon Springs
The Kosbastau Oasis is fed by warm underground springs containing radon water. It is believed that radon water caused gene and chromosomal mutations in the giant 700-year-old willow.
How low-level radiation exposure affects living organisms remains unknown, but warm radon springs have long been widely used in balneology to treat various ailments.
Geological Settlement
There is only one location in the Kosbastau Oasis where the gamma radiation equivalent dose rate within the flowing well contour significantly exceeds permissible limits. A large uranium deposit was explored here in the last century.
In the 1960s and 1980s of the 20th century, a large uranium deposit, Sulucheki (or Sulushoky), was explored on the territory of the Altyn-Emel National Park. Here, on the basis of the geological exploration settlement, exploration of uranium reserves and experimental uranium mining were carried out.
By the end of the 80s, this production and the activity of the geological settlement itself were completely stopped, the bore-holes were liquidated, and the lands were reclaimed. According to the experts, there are no negative environmental effects, the established indicators correspond to the accepted sanitary and hygienic standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Subsequently, the settlement of geologists practically ceased to exist for the industry and as a populated area. Only a few houses remained.
The Sulushoky deposit was transferred to the long-term reserve of the mining industry of Kazakhstan.
Tourist Attraction
Tourists usually visit the 700-year-old willow tree on their way to or from the Aktau Mountains. Kosbastau is a ranger's post, with a rest area. The most daring tourists take a radon shower. The warm spring is located a little way from the ranger's post itself, next to the abandoned geological settlement.
