The Singing Dunes in Kazakhstan are called Aigaikum ("singing sand dune" in Kazakh). The Singing Dunes are the main attraction of the Altyn-Emel National Park.
The Singing Dunes look like mountains of pure quartz sand without vegetation, with steep slopes. When dry sand moves, the grains of sand rub against each other, which produces a lingering, loud sound, similar to low singing. That is why they were named "Singing Sands". Such a rare natural phenomenon has been noted in only a few places in the world.
The Singing Dunes are one of the 7 natural wonders of Kazakhstan which were included in the list of nominees for the global competition "7 new wonders of nature" held in 2007-2011. The Singing Dunes have the status of the Nationally Significant Natural Monument.
Location
The Singing Dunes are located in the southern central part of the Altyn-Emel National Park on the right bank of the Ili river, between the Ulken (Big) and Kishi (Small) Kalkan mountain ranges, 46 km from the village of Basshi, about 300 km from the city of Almaty.
Singing Dune and Legends of Genghis Khan
The most popular excursion route is traditionally associated with the name of the great conqueror Genghis Khan, who passed through these places in 1219 during his campaign to Central Asia.
The fast-moving army of the nomadic Mongols did not leave any significant traces here, but the historical Mongolian name of Altyn-Emel ("Golden Saddle") and the geographical location of this territory on the way to the cities of Semirechye, which were the Genghis Khan's ultimate goal, prove that Altyn-Emel was one of the first silent eyewitnesses of this military campaign.
Some folk legends have preserved the memory of this event. One of them says that Genghis Khan himself is buried under the sands of the Singing Dune, and the second legend is related to the mysterious menhirs of Oshaktas which are considered to be a large hearth for cooking put up by the warriors.
Among the lands conquered by Genghis Khan on the territory of present-day Kazakhstan, Altyn-Emel is one of the few that has preserved the primevalness of these places to this day, the way they looked during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.
Formation
The Singing Dunes were formed as a result of geological changes in the Semirechye (Jetysu, Seven Rivers) region. About 200 thousand years ago, a part of the Ulken Kalkan (Big Kalkan) volcano shifted, forming the mountains known as Kishi Kalkan (Small Kalkan).
In this new corridor, like in a wind tunnel, the winds blowing from the southeast to the west-northwest, pulled in the sands, which lay at the foot of the volcano, forming huge dunes about 10-12 thousand years ago.
The mountains of the Big and Small Kalkans surround the Singing Dunes, thus preserving their unchanged shape.
Dimensions
The dimensions of the largest Singing Dune are 3 km long and 150 m high. This is the southern dune, which is most popular with tourists. Nearby is the northern dune, about 100 m high.
The total area of the dunes is 240 hectares. The absolute heights of the ridges reach 600-650 m.
Sound
The sound of the Singing Dune is reminiscent of low throat singing, the low sound of an organ or the rumble of a jet aircraft, which is heard for several kilometers around. It occurs in dry windy weather, when the sand mass moves.
There are various theories about the mysterious mechanism of the singing sand. According to one of them, the sound frequency depends on the shear rate of the sand mass. Other scientists believe that the vibration frequency is related to the thickness of the dry surface layer of sand. Sound waves resonate between the surface of the dune and the surface of the wet layer, increasing the volume of the sound. The sound itself can be caused by the friction between the grains of sand, or by the compression of air between them.
The sound effect is achieved not only with the wind, but also with mechanical action, if you slide down the dry slope of the dune, but scientists have expressed concerns about the stability of this sandy ecosystem. Frequent descents from the slopes of the dune cause the grinding of grains of sand and the accumulation of a dusty fraction, which over time can lead to the loss of the ability of the Singing Dune to produce its sound.
In different places of the world, singing sands sound differently. This largely depends on the size of the sand dune.
Due to its big size, the Aigaikum Singing Dune under certain conditions produces a strong, low and long sound.
Tourist Attraction
The Singing Dune is the main tourist attraction of the Altyn-Emel National Park.
Singing dunes are a rare phenomenon, can be only found in a few places on the globe.
Why does the Singing Dune attract thousands of tourists from all over the world? First, due to its mysterious ability to produce sound. Standing next to the dune during its "singing", it is hard to believe that this sound is made by a sandy mountain, and not by some low-flying aircraft.
The full sound of the Singing Dune can be heard for many kilometers around.
Secondly, the Singing Dune is notable for the fact that it does not wander in the desert and never loses its shape, but remains in its place, despite the unsteadiness of sand and strong winds. It is the special wind rose in this area that determines the unchanging shape and stability of the dune.
The giant mass of sand of the Singing Dune has remained in place for several millennia and is constantly growing due to sand blown in from the shallows of the Ili river.
Thirdly, climbing the Singing Dune, especially barefoot, is pure pleasure and the opportunity to hear the sound of the dune under your feet. The ascent is not difficult, and the dune itself is surprisingly soft. Also, a stunning panorama of the national park opens from its top. The large southern dune has three ridges, the last of them comes close to the Ili river.
The Singing Dune is incredibly beautiful and is an excellent backdrop for photo shoots.
In Popular Culture
The Singing Dune is one of the sacred places where the main character of The Zahir novel by the Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho comes to a spiritual revelation.
"It is a pity that your famous Singing Dune, which made a strong impression on me, is not visible or heard from the Alatau mountains," Paulo Coelho said to journalist and writer Zhumagali Ismagulov, the translator of his novel into Kazakh.
In 2005, Paulo Coelho visited Kazakhstan for presenting The Zahir novel in Almaty. One of its central characters is a sage who lives on the shore of Kapchagai. In his letter dated March 20, 2005, Paulo Coelho tells the readers of the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper: “After the enthusiastic stories of my friends about Kazakhstan, I began to search the Internet for everything that can be learned about this country. And the longer I searched, the more I fell in love with the Kazakh culture. At the same time, I started writing The Zahir book. And by the magic of inspiration, a Kazakh became one of the main characters. Since then, the landscapes of Kazakhstan and The Zahir have become woven together, and the main storyline pointed to the road in the direction of the steppes".
Due to its extraordinary photogenicity, the Singing Dune is a favorite place for photo and video filming, it can often be seen in various commercials and music videos - for example, in the "Qairan Elim" MV of the famous Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen, glorifying the beauty of Kazakhstan.
Legends
For many centuries, a considerable number of folk legends have been composed about the Singing Dune.
In ancient times, one shaitan (evil spirit, devil) traveled around the world. He spied on people, spinned intrigues, had his finger in every pie and did not miss anything. Once the Almighty was angry with him and deprived him of the opportunity to move with lightning speed from one place to another. Then the shaitan had to walk to his house, and the house was on the top of the mountain. For a long time the shaitan walked around the steppe, making his way along winding paths on the banks of the Ili River. Finally, he got tired and lay down to rest. So difficult was his path and so heavy was the burden of the deeds he had accomplished that the shaitan fell asleep soundly. And he still sleeps, turning into a lonely dune, and nothing and no one can wake him up, neither the scorching sun, nor rains, nor thunderstorms, nor winds. Only sometimes a lonely groan breaks out of his chest when someone tries to disturb the sleeping shaitan.
In a far away country, in the mountains of Dzhungarian Alatau, the Spirit lived. He was a very cheerful spirit. The Spirit was very fond of joking, but how to joke? It had no voice, no body ... Who will understand voiceless-disembodied jokes? And the Spirit decided to find a body for itself - then there will be a voice, too. "That's when I'll have some fun!" the Spirit thought. He looked around: mountains on the left, mountains on the right, and the steppe between them, and in the steppe there is a lonely sand dune. Rare trees grow there, a dry grass is blown by the wind.
“Some kind of strange dune,” thought the Spirit, “All the dunes are in the desert. This one stands in the steppe and does not move.” High in the sky, an eagle soars, looking out for prey: maybe a turtle will crawl, or maybe a gopher will run. “No, I don’t want to be neither a tree, nor an eagle, nor an eagle’s prey,” the Spirit decided, and became sad. Then suddenly a wind blew from the western mountains and began to blow off grains of sand from the top of the dune. It flew up to the eastern mountains, pushed off, picked up the grains of sand and carried it back. “So that's why the dune stands still,” the Spirit rejoiced, “That's what I will become. Hey, good!»
He rose above the dune and dived into the sand. He moved, rustled with grains of sand: it was warm, cozy, and then the wind died down. The night in the foothill steppe is cold, the stars shine - yellow, white, blue, greenish, red - like flowers in a meadow. They flicker, they wink at the Spirit: "Well done."
At night, the steppe inhabitants, who hid in holes during the day from the heat, got out of their shelters: some to eat, some to drink, and some just to take a walk. A jerboa decided to visit his relatives by a short way: he jumped on the dune, and the Spirit said: “Hey!”. The jerboa jumped up in fright, the tassel on his tail shook. The Spirit had much fun. The paws of the jerboa are thin, the claws are long, scratchy. The jerboa jumps, the Spirit screams "Hey!". With all his strength, the jerboa jumped and heard after him “Hey, hey, hey!”. The jerboa barely escaped.
A steppe fox, a corsac, went hunting. The fur coat, like sand, is yellow-gray, the eyes are round beads, they sparkle, look out for prey. The fox stepped on the dune, and the Spirit "Huh!" The fox was surprised but took another step. "Huh!" said the Spirit. The fox runs, and the Spirit: “Huh! Huh! Huh! Be careful, people of the night, the fox is looking for prey!". The fox is hungry, but the Spirit is happy.
The Spirit became too naughty. The snake crawled onto the dune, and the prankster would hiss: “Ps-s-s-s-s-s, ps-s-s-s.” There was a wise snake, she lived for a long time in this world - she was not afraid. She only shamed the Spirit: “Your jokes are not good, they are evil. You frightened the jerboa, left the cubs hungry, laughed at me, the old snake. What for? You have a voice now. Live and rejoice yourself and rejoice others.
The Spirit thought. And in the morning the sun rose, a light wind blew, the Spirit asked: “Help, brothers! Shine, the Sun, hotter, blow, the Wind, stronger". The sun is warm, the wind blows from the left, then from the right. The Spirit sings with the voice of a dune. He sings in different ways: sometimes it shimmers like a mountain river over a stone, sometimes it buzzes like bees in a flowering garden, sometimes it sounds like an organ.
The Spirit visited different places, he could tell a lot. And he sang so beautifully that rumors about him spread far and wide. People began to come to the singing dune from afar. They clap their hands on the sand - and the dune sings. And with the help of the sun and the wind, he gives amazing concerts.
And the Spirit forgot about offensive jokes - now he has songs, he can tell a lot.
There is a poetic legend about Genghis Khan, who passed through Altyn-Emel in the 13th century during his raid on Central Asia. It says that Genghis Khan himself and his military comrades-in-arms are buried under the sands of the dune, and the sand sings when the khan's soul "exhausted from anguish of mind, tells the descendants about his exploits."
Singing Dune: Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Singing Dune in the Altyn-Emel National Park is spring and autumn.
Summer in Altyn-Emel can be extremely hot for unprepared tourists. The scorching sun and the complete absence of shade in the desert make it difficult to climb the Singing Dune.
The winter season is suitable for trips to Altyn-Emel, provided that the weather is clear, calm, without precipitation and snow cover. The Singing Dune is practically devoid of vegetation and is beautiful at any time of the year. Please check the road conditions with the park office and look up the weather on the Internet (check the Basshi village).
See also:
Travel Advisory
- The park is open for visitors only during daylight hours.
- Overnight stays and camping at the Singing Dune are prohibited. The nearest camping place is the Mynbulak post, 10 km from the dune.
- It is prohibited to move around the park during dark hours.
- There is almost no mobile communication in the park and the Internet does not work.
- The road along Route 1 is gravelly soil (chatter bumps), dusty and bad, causing strong vibration.
Learn more about the route to know how much time you will need to visit the park.
- Passport
- Small handy backpack for personal items
- Personal hygiene items: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a towel, etc. in case of overnight stay in a hotel or a campsite
- Antibacterial wet wipes
- Paper tissues and toilet paper (plain, white, non-perfumed brands)
- Sunscreen cream
- Cream or spray against blood-sucking insects
- Smartphone / camera + chargers
- Personal medikit
- Drinking water (in the hot arid climate of the Altyn-Emel Park, you may need a lot of drinking water)
Wear comfortable nonstainable outdoor clothing: pants, a T-shirt or a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt and a raingear. Summer outfit should be suitable for a very sunny, hot, as well as windy and dusty weather.
A headdress that protects from the sun and wind is a must.
Shoes should be lightweight, with good grip soles designed for hiking. Don't wear slippers.
Bring a set of clothes for the evening and flip-flops in case of overnight stay at a hotel or campsite (keep in mind that nights can be cold).
For the cold season, you will need warm hiking clothes and shoes, as well as thermal underwear.
The distances in the Altyn-Emel Park are large, so clothes, shoes and headgear should be as comfortable as possible for long hikes.
Be careful in the mountains and near the cliffs. Keep to the elaborate tourist routes.
Wear a sun hat and drink enough clean water to prevent dehydration in the desert climate.
Use an anti-tick spray on all clothing during the active period (May-June). Take care also of mosquito and midge repellents.
Do not touch animals, lizards and rodents, which can be infection carriers.
With normal wildlife safety and hygiene practices, you will enjoy your vacation and your exciting journey through the national park.
Tourism in the Altyn-Emel National Park is pro-environmental.
Garbage. Wherever you are, do not leave garbage (including organic) behind you, such as plastic, glass, metal, food waste, cigarette butts, napkins, tampons, pads, etc. Pack the garbage carefully in bags and take them out to specially designated places. Bring drawstring trash bags. Do not burn any kind of garbage.
Toilet. If you are away from a toilet, find a spot that is away from paths and water sources, and be sure that human feces do not contaminate water. In a hot desert, human waste does not biodegrade easily because there is little organic soil to help break it down. Do not bury them, but lightly cover them with soil so that the heat of the sun and light can speed up the decay process. Used toilet paper should also be sprinkled with soil. Use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands.
Caravansarai Campsite is located in the Basshi village, near the Altyn-Emel National Park office:
- a large country estate;
- comfortable caravans;
- a spacious guest house;
- Kazakh yurts;
- own touring cars.
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