It's not the biggest canyon in the world, but the Sharyn Canyon in Kazakhstan is a spectacular example of natural beauty. The Sharyn River, which flows from the Tien Shan
Mountains down through the steppe, formed the canyon that is located 200 kilometres
from Almaty
• The 80-kilometre-long canyon, with its fresh water, trees and many hiding places in
the rocks, is an oasis in the difficult environment of the surrounding steppe. The
breathtaking scenery is amazing!
If you're fascinated by nature, then the Sharyn Canyon is an ideal destination.
There are many types of wildlife here, including steppe hares, foxes, Menzbier's
marmots, snakes, lizards and the Gymnodiptychus dybowskii fish. Rare ash trees
grow at the bottom of the valley and there is an ancient Ice Age forest nearby.
The Sharyn valley is also a geologist's dream. Over thousands of years, the strong
winds of the steppe have formed many interesting shapes in the rocks. One
part of the canyon, the Valley of the Castles, has rocks that look like
buildings! The canyon is very colourful, with striped red cliffs
above black volcanic rocks. At sunset everything changes, with
mysterious shadows moving across the floor of the canyon.
Visiting the Sharyn Canyon is an unforgettable experience that has
something for everyone