Discover Aqtöbe: Nature, Geology and Culture

Landscapes and geological features

Aktolagay is a 90-kilometre-long mountain range in Baiganin District. As a geological and geomorphological site, it is part of the state-protected heritage fund and is of both national and international significance. The scale of the mountain range makes it a striking natural feature of the region; its classification also indicates its scientific importance.

The Aidarlyasha geomorphological outcrop is also significant for science and tourism. Its exposed layers extend for 1.5 kilometres along a riverbank. The stratotype forms a steep face up to 50 metres high. The landscape is therefore defined both by the long sequence of exposed layers and by the height of the rock face.

Zhamanshin is an impact crater about 14 kilometres in diameter. It was formed around one million years ago by a meteorite impact. Tektites and impactites formed by the impact can be found in the crater. The site is of interest for both scientific research and tourism. For travellers interested in how extraordinary landforms are created, Zhamanshin brings together a distinctive natural setting and the story of its formation.

Another natural highlight is the Barkyn Sands, where a pine forest rises like an oasis in the desert. The Irgis-Turgai State Nature Reserve, in turn, protects, among other things, the migration routes of saiga in the Betpakdala population. These examples offer different points of interest, from an unusual woodland landscape to the protection of the routes used by a specific saiga population.

Water and a seasonal excursion destination

The Kargaly Water Reservoir lies in a mountain depression in Kargaly District, Aqtöbe Region. Its water surface covers 28.5 square kilometres, and its maximum depth is 31.8 metres. The reservoir is used for recreation, fishing and tourism, and tourist routes run around it. Its area and depth give an idea of the scale of this body of water.

The “Wolf” waterfall is located in the gorge of the Ebita River in Kargaly District, 120 kilometres from Aqtöbe. It is active only in spring, from late April to June. If the waterfall is important to your trip, be sure to take this time window into account.

Memorial sites and history

The Khan Molasy Memorial Complex is considered a sacred pilgrimage site. Khan Abulkhair is buried in its necropolis. The complex also includes a 25-metre-high architectural monument made of white granite and decorated with Kazakh tribal tamgas. The burial site and the monument give the place distinct historical and cultural associations.

Abat-Baytak is a necropolis dating from the 14th to the early 20th century and a funerary and ritual complex with a mausoleum. It lies 12 kilometres south of the village of Taldysay in Khobda District. The mausoleum consists of an eleven-sided drum and a conical dome; it measures 9.52 × 9.8 metres. The site can therefore be understood both in terms of its long history and the distinctive shape and size of its mausoleum.

When to visit and getting around

The international Qarg'aly Fest tourism festival is held annually in Aqtöbe Region. For travel to the region, Aliya Moldagulova International Airport offers flights to Astana and Almaty. These details let you consider when to travel and how to get there separately from the seasonal natural attractions: spring is the key season for the waterfall, while the festival takes place annually.

For more information about the destination, see the pages on the subregions Prigorodnyy, Chromtau and Aqtöbe. More destination pages: Qysylorda, Pawlodar, Qostanai, Qaraghandy and East Kazakhstan.

For the broader travel overview: Kazakhstan.