Munaily Mola Bitumen Deposit
Hidden in the lifeless expanses of western Kazakhstan lies one of the region’s most unusual sights – the Munaily Mola Deposit. Once a site of natural bitumen extraction, it now looks more like a sci-fi film set than an industrial area. Thick, tar-like bitumen still seeps from underground, hardening on the surface into rounded boulders.
Where Industry Meets Nature
Remnants of old machinery and rusty metal pieces still lie scattered around. In the center of the former quarry, there are pits filled with water that formed several small lakes. In the arid steppe, these dark pools have become unexpected oases that attract migratory birds and wild animals.
The Mystery of the Spheres
The strangest feature of Munaily Mola is its bitumen nodules of various sizes. Some are perfectly round, others cracked and uneven. They formed naturally from a mix of bitumen, sand, and rock that slowly hardened into solid, glossy orbs.
Munaily Mola is often compared to the Torysh Valley in Mangystau, where stone spheres were formed millions of years ago on the bottom of the ancient Tethys Ocean. But here, the process is ongoing and the spherical boulders are shaped by oil, heat, and time.
This site is rarely included in travel itineraries but it surely deserves more attention. Munaily Mola is a vivid reminder that even abandoned industrial landscapes can evolve into something remarkable.
How to get there?
Munaily Mola is located in the Jylyoi District of the Atyrau Region, about 88 km (55 mi) northeast of the town of Kulsary and 295 km (183 mi) from Atyrau.
From Atyrau, take the highway toward Kulsary. Around 13 km (8 mi) before reaching the town, you’ll see a Muslim cemetery. Turn left there and continue northeast across the steppe. On your way, you’ll pass the striking white cliffs of the Akkegershin Plateau.
Other tourist attractions near the Munaily Mola Deposit:
- Aktolagay Mountains
- Akkegershin Plateau
- Imankara Cave
- Mausoleum of Juban
- The Village of Dossor
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