Charyn Canyon

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Place overview
The Charyn State National Nature Park (Kazakh: «Шарын» мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі, romanized: Şaryn memlekettık ūlttyq tabiği parkı; Russian: Государственный национальный природный парк «Чарын») is a national park in Kazakhstan, primarily along the Charyn river and encompassing the Charyn Canyon. The park spans approximately 125,050 hectares (309,005 acres) and is situated in the Enbekshikazakh, Raiymbek, and Uygur districts of Almaty Region, about 200 km east of Almaty. The park, established in 2004, aims to protect the unique geological formations of the canyon, the ecological balance of the river and desert systems, and important archaeological sites in the area.
The park also protects relic Sogdian Ash groves, offering a glimpse of ancient vegetation. Parts of the Charyn National Park are designated for recreational activities, drawing visitors for hiking, sightseeing, and nature observation. The park's biodiversity and landscapes make it an important ecological and geological site in Kazakhstan.
The park is long and thin, protecting both banks of the Charyn River for 50 km, but only to a width of 3 km. The Charyn River at this point runs southwest to northeast through arid foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains 30 km to the south. The canyon reaches 370 meters in depth, and its base is approximately 1,100 meters above sea level. The park protects four main sites:
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Gallery
View the source gallery here: Charyn Canyon Wikimedia