CANYONS OF THE CHARYN RIVER (SOUTH-EAST KAZAKHSTAN): GEOLOGICAL HISTORY AND GEOTOURISM

Abstract

The Charyn River is located in South-East Kazakhstan, 195 km east of Almaty. The river valley cuts through Paleozoic rocks and loose sandy-clay deposits of the Cenozoic and forms amazingly beautiful canyons, the so-called "Valley of Castles". This place is actively visited by tourists from all over the world. However, Charyn canyons have not only tourist but also scientific value. Deposits with fossil fauna and flora are exposed here, and there is evidence of unique tectonic processes that took place in this area. Years of research have made it possible to describe in detail the stratigraphy of the region and outline new tourism routes that open up unknown pages in the history of South-Eastern Kazakhstan.