It’s no coincidence that when a tourist steps foot in the Mangistau region, they draw a parallel between this majestic steppe and the Martian landscape. The moment you venture into the Kyzylkup Gorge, you’ll realize that this comparison is far from an exaggeration.
Kyzylkup Gorge wasn’t always the well-known destination it is today. Initially, its rough and obstacle-laden road kept it hidden from most travelers. However, in 2010, while repairing the road to the underground mosque at Beket Ata, the sand and gravel needed for construction were sourced from this very gorge, opening up a pathway to its hidden beauty. Then, in 2020, amidst a surge of interest in domestic tourism during the quarantine period, Kyzylkup found itself in the spotlight. The icing on the cake was when National Geographic magazine shared a photograph by the renowned photographer George Steinmetz, taken right here, on their Instagram page, which further piqued the interest of many to explore Kyzylkup.
What was once a hidden gem, known to only a select few, has blossomed into one of Mangystau’s most sought-after tourist destinations. Spanning ten kilometers from west to east and stretching eight kilometers wide, this elevated wonderland sits proudly at 268 meters above sea level. Composed of a breathtaking blend of colorful sedimentary rocks, featuring layers of white, yellow, red, and brown, it’s a true geological masterpiece. This captivating spectrum of hues owes its existence to an array of minerals and ancient sea sediments, with the white layers sculpted from chalk and the red layers generously painted by iron deposits.
Known affectionately by tourists as «Tiramisu Mountain» due to its captivating array of colors, Kyzylkup Mountain derives its official name from a nearby reservoir.
In the heart of Kyzylkup Valley, which was once the seabed of an ancient ocean millions of years ago, you’ll uncover the fossilized remnants of ancient sharks, hipparions, and saber-toothed tigers. Remarkably, artifacts typically reserved for museums may lie right beneath your feet. Moreover, the gorge boasts a natural marvel known as the «Local Sphinx» – when viewed from a distance, it remarkably resembles the head of a colossal giant.
While Kyzylkup boasts a myriad of stunning hues, its local fauna and flora are relatively modest. Within these arid lands, you’ll come across a community of lizards and crabs, and due to the limited rainfall, the vegetation cover remains sparse. Kyzylkup is situated approximately 240 kilometers to the east of Aktau.