Zhongar-Alatau National Park
Zhongar-Alatau National Park, National park in Zhetisu Region, Kazakhstan
Zhongar-Alatau is a large protected area on the northern slopes of the Zhetysu-Alatau mountain range, featuring steep canyons, forests, and numerous streams fed by glaciers. The terrain spans different elevations and contains varied habitats ranging from dense woodlands to alpine zones.
The protected area was officially established in 2010 to preserve the mountain slopes and their ecosystems. Since then, it has become an important site for nature conservation in the region.
The park preserves traces of ancient settlements and artworks left by people who lived here for centuries. Visitors may encounter historical petroglyphs and burial sites while hiking, reflecting the lives of past communities.
The park is accessible from several entry points and offers well-marked trails through different landscapes. Visitors should be prepared for varying elevations and changing weather conditions in the mountains.
The area is known for wild apple trees of an ancient variety that are considered the original form of all cultivated apple species. These trees represent a living example of the natural botanical diversity that humans have used for agriculture.
Location: Zhetisu Region
Inception: April 30, 2010
Website: http://fhc.kz/kz/forest/330/5933
GPS coordinates: 45.25556,80.77698
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
Kazakhstan stretches across an impressive variety of landscapes, from high mountains to vast steppes, from hidden mountain lakes to wide desert plains. The country protects numerous natural areas that show these differences and allow visitors to experience places that remain little changed. In the national parks and reserves, you can walk through forests, stand by quiet lakes, or explore canyons shaped over thousands of years. Among the most visited are Charyn Canyon with its red rock walls, Burabay National Park with its pine forests and granite boulders, and Big Almaty Lake, which sits in a narrow valley at over 2500 meters elevation. Kaindy Lake is known for its submerged trees, their trunks still rising from the water. In the southern regions you find Aksu-Zhabagly, the country's oldest nature reserve, while in the east Mount Belukha, the highest peak of the Altai range, stands on the border with Russia. Each of these places offers its own picture of what nature looks like in this part of Central Asia.
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