Natural Monument "Charyn ash forest", Natural monument in Uygur District, Kazakhstan.
Natural Monument 'Charyn ash forest' covers thousands of hectares of dense Sogdian ash trees that grow in groves along the banks of the Charyn River. The woodland features multiple layers of trees and vegetation that follow the river's course through the landscape.
The forest received legal protection in 1964 when authorities recognized the ecological importance of preserving this rare ash woodland. The forest has remained largely unchanged since then, maintaining its value as a key natural site in the region.
Local communities value this forest as part of their living landscape and incorporate it into their everyday connection with nature. Visitors often walk through the groves to experience the forest as a place where people spend time in quiet reflection.
A network of marked trails connects the forest areas and helps visitors navigate through the woodland without getting lost. The visit works best during the warmer months when daylight lasts longer and the forest is most accessible to walk through.
The ash trees here descend from Ice Age populations and represent one of the last surviving ancient groves of their kind in Central Asia. These prehistoric survivors have endured dramatic shifts in climate and remain a living connection to a much older world.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
