Back to category Published: 15 july 2022 Author: Zhanna Mukhatzhanova

Tupkaragan Peninsula

Since ancient times, the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea has been crossed by trade routes. The rapid growth of trade in the region falls in the 16th century when coastal shipping was developing. The Tupkaragan Bay, located in the western part of the peninsula, is ideal for ship mooring because its shores are rocky and steep.

In the 1850s, the Novopetrovsk fortress was built in the bay. It was supposed to connect the trade routes of Europe and Central Asia and protect caravans from robbers. Even before the fortress’s construction, goods were already being exchanged between Astrakhan industrialists and Khiva caravans. Khiva caravans soon stopped visiting Mangystau but the fortress retained its importance as the only Russian fortress in the region until the Krasnovodsk Fort was built in 1869.

Why is the peninsula worth visiting?

The Tupkaragan Peninsula is home to several attractions. One of them is Lake Saura which is known to host a large population of pond turtles.

The Airakty-Shomanay Mountains look like amazing castles with towers and colonnades. In spring, the area around the mountains is covered with Sogdian tulips.

Another natural wonder is Zhygylgan Hollow. According to one theory, this depression was formed when soil cover was washed down, which caused rocks to collapse. Another theory says that the hollow is a result of the movement of tectonic plates. Whatever caused the hollow to appear, it is a magnificent sight to behold. Moreover, there you can find fossils of ancient sea creatures and, if you’re lucky, fossilized bones of saber-toothed tiger or hipparion.

In the north of the peninsula, there is the Shakpak Ata Cave Mosque, the most ancient architectural monument in Western Kazakhstan. This mosque is carved inside a solid chalk rock.

Torysh, the Valley of Globular Stones, is the peninsula’s most mysterious landmark. The valley is strewn with thousands of globular boulders some of which reach 4 meters in diameter. Scientists still cannot come to a conclusion about how they were formed.

Mount Sherkala is a mountain of amazing beauty. If you look at it from different sides, the mountain’s shape resembles a lion, a piala (a small ceramic bowl), or a yurt (Kazakh national dwelling; a portable, round tent).

The ancient settlement of Ketik Kala, which is said to date back to the period of the Golden Horde, is the most notable archaeological site on the Tupkaragan Peninsula. Archaeological excavations have uncovered coins, pottery, and goods from Khwarazm (an ancient state in Central Asia), Azerbaijan, and Iran.

Soldiers’ Cemetery

The Tupkaragan Peninsula also houses a Soldiers’ Cemetery with a mass grave of Austro-Hungarian prisoners of World War I. During the war, prisoners were brought from Petrograd (former name of Saint Petersburg) to Kazakhstan along the Trans-Siberian Railway. These prisoners contributed greatly to the development of the Tupkaragan Region. They completed the construction of the Russian-Kazakh school (now the Daryn Education Center), installed the first radio station in Kazakhstan, and built a road between the villages of Bautino and Atash. Prisoners of war died during the cholera epidemic. Nowadays, in the cemetery, you can see a stele with “Soldiers of 1915” engraved on it.

Солдатское кладбище на полуострове Тупкараган

How to get there?

To reach the Tupkaragan Peninsula, follow the Aktau – Fort Shevchenko highway. This road is well paved; however, you will have to drive along dirt roads to reach some attractions. Ensure that your vehicle is suitable for the terrain you plan to travel through. Also, watch out for camels on the roads.

We highly recommend exploring the Tupkaragan Peninsula with a guided tour, especially if it’s your first visit and you don’t know the area well. The Mangystau Region is remote and sparsely populated and navigating there may be hard. Please remember that getting lost in the desert may be very dangerous. This information is not designed to scare potential visitors but remind everyone that traveling around Mangystau isn't to be taken lightly.