Butakovsky gorge, Mountain defile in Zailiysky Alatau ridge, Kazakhstan
Butakovsky gorge is a mountain defile in the Zailiysky Alatau ridge near Almaty, extending about 14 kilometers with elevations ranging between 1700 and 2900 meters. The Butakovka River flows through it and creates two waterfalls along its course.
During the 19th century, the gorge territory served as a dacha residence for G. A. Kolpakovsky, the first Governor of Semirechye. This use as a retreat shaped the site's early significance.
The name likely comes from a Cossack guard chief stationed there in the 1860s or from the Kazakh word 'butak' meaning tributary. These possible origins reflect the region's mixed cultural history.
To reach the gorge, visitors travel along Dostyk Avenue and Beiseuova Street to the national park eco-post. Public bus 29P offers convenient transport from the city center.
The lower waterfall creates a natural water curtain effect, allowing visitors to look out through cascading water from a special vantage point. This rare natural phenomenon makes the spot memorable for photographers.
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