Ustyurt Plateau: location, description

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

The famous Ustyurt plateau is located in Central Asia, it occupies a vast territory of almost 200 thousand square meters. m. Moreover, the borders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and a small section of Turkmenistan pass through it. Actually, the name "Ustyurt" in the Turkic version of the translation sounds like "plateau".

Wonderful natural creation

Scientists-geologists suggest that at least 20 million years have passed since the emergence of the plateau. However, only at the end of the last century, in the 80s, did the scientific world become interested in Ustyurt. An expedition to the Ustyurt Plateau was repeatedly organized. People wanted to gather as much information as possible about this great place.

The neighbors of the giant natural creation are:

• from the western side - the Mangyshlak Peninsula and the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay (translated as "Black Mouth");
• in the east - the irretrievably drying up Aral Sea, the delta of the Amudarya River.

Bozzhira

The dimensions of the Ustyurt plateau are impressive, in different places its height is from 180 to 300 meters. Sometimes steep 350-meter ledges come across - chinks, whichrise above the adjacent plain.

The highest is the southwestern part of the plateau called Bozzhira. It consists of rocky ridges, hills (ridges) with almost even outlines. The area of Boszhira is incredibly beautiful, it can compete with the famous Monument Valley (USA). The only thing that distinguishes these amazing corners of the planet from each other is the number of tourists. Unfortunately, few of them have heard about the existence of this pearl of Ustyurt. It is worth exploring Kazakhstan on a map of mountain ranges to appreciate the scale of this place.

Distant Past Plateau

More than 21 million years ago, the plateau was deep under water. In that distant era, there were two huge continents on Earth - Laurasia and Gondwana. They were separated by the Tethys Ocean. The disappearance of the ancient sea, which was an integral part of the ocean, falls on the first half of the Cenozoic. The pace of this process accelerated about 2 million years ago, after the Caspian and Black Seas separated.

Seashells are found in the limestone of Ustyurt, which confirms the hypothesis put forward. In addition, there is a huge amount of ferromanganese nodules, which resemble billiard balls in size and shape. Not everyone will guess that the spherical formations scattered over the entire surface of the plateau were formed under sea conditions. The water gradually eroded the dolomite and limestone rocks, but the ferromanganese concretions were more solid, they only acquired rounded outlines. I can't believe that the Ustyurt plateaulocated in Kazakhstan. The locals are proud of this attraction.

Indescribable beauty

The flat terrain is a desert. In some places, clay prevails in the soil, in others - a clay-stony surface. In addition, there are areas of sand or with small gravel. The desert is replaced by cracks or rocks, consisting mainly of chalk. The feeling involuntarily seizes that you are on the surface of a lifeless planet or you are present at the shooting of a Hollywood movie of the same format. The Ustyurt Plateau attracts the attention of many tourists and landscape photographers.

The true beauty of the chalk cliffs comes out when the sun rises or sets. At these moments, a beautiful sight opens up: the rays give the usually white rocks reddish hues. At noon they become slightly bluish. If you appreciate natural attractions, then be sure to visit the Ustyurt Plateau (Kazakhstan).

Representatives of flora and fauna inhabiting the plateau

Regarding flora and fauna, it is worth noting the following. There is nothing here that could surprise a tourist. Such representatives of the plant world as wormwood and saxaul dominate. In a more favorable spring period, which does not last long, flowers appear and the picture becomes brighter.

The animal world is more diverse. There are all those species that have adapted to life in the steppes and deserts. Climatic conditions on the plateau are favorable for reptiles, which are representedlizards, snakes and turtles. Small rodents (jerboa, ground squirrel, marmot, gerbil), hedgehogs and hares settled well. This is despite the fact that each of them is a potential prey for a wolf, fox or caracal. The cheetah, which belongs to rare species, feels good, and therefore is protected by law. The shy saigas are considered the pride of Ustyurt. Unfortunately, their population is in critical condition. Argali are also found among artiodactyls.

On the rocks of the chinka, vultures and eagles froze in majestic poses, proudly watching everything that happens below on the plain. There are birds familiar to Europeans - doves and sparrows. The Ustyurt plateau is mostly inhabited by snakes. Therefore, tourists should exercise caution when walking on rocky terrain.

Another feature of the Ustyurt plateau is a large population of feral horses. Once nomadic Kazakhs were breeding these domestic animals on local farms.

Water and winds

Water on the plateau is considered scarce, since natural reservoirs have long since disappeared. All rivers and lakes have dried up. Dry channels and s alt marshes testify to their existence in ancient times. The winds in Ustyurt have complete freedom, because there are no natural barriers in the form of mountains and forests on the plateau.

This affects the state of karst rocks, leads to soil erosion, which, in turn, leads to a gradual change in the boundaries of the Ustyurt plateau itself.

Mysteries around the area

BDuring the Middle Ages, Ustyurt was on the path of caravans that departed from the city of Khorezm, and then moved to settlements on the shores of the Caspian Sea and the lower reaches of the Volga River. In other words, the Great Silk Road passed along it. There are many artifacts left, confirming that merchants often visited the plateau. These are, for example, the remains of cemeteries and underground temples. Settlements were set up, even cities with visiting yards for caravans (caravanserai) and with all the infrastructure. The ruins of one of these cities called Shahr-i-Wazir remained in good condition.

In the late 70s of the last century, a plane flying over the plateau took aerial photographs. On the surface of the plateau, mysterious images were revealed, something like arrowheads pointing to the northeast. The triangular figures are quite impressive in size, their sides reach 100 meters in length. Unknown masters used a chipped stone to create giant "arrows" on the ground. Apparently, they have some kind of sacred meaning. Scientists have not yet given a clear and unambiguous answer to this question.

There are holes dug in the ground near every corner. They may have retained water. In addition to these "arrows", other figures were later discovered, in particular, warriors, pyramids and turtles, which were also made of stone. "Arrows" on the plateau can safely be classified in the same category of historical mysteries as the famous images in the Nazca desert.

Be sure to visit Ustyurt when you come to Kazakhstan. On the map you can see exactly wherethis natural landmark is located.