What to see and visit in North Kazakhstan?

All the cultural life and entertainment facilities for tourists are concentrated in Petropavlovsk: museums, theaters, temples, mosques, restaurants, cafes, a waterpark. Those who prefer to explore the natural sights, go to the outskirts of the regional city.

Near Borovoye Lake is one of the most mysterious sights in the world — the rock Zhumbaktas. In translation, the name of the rock means “Mystery Stone”. The main feature of the rock is its shape, which is impossible to define: on one side it looks like a sphinx, on the other — like a girl with loose hair. If you get closer — the rock resembles a boat, from a long distance you can see the outlines of a hunched over the old woman.

The most unusual thing about Kenesary Cave near Borovoye Lake is its history. The national hero of Kazakhstan, Kenesary Kasymov, often stayed in the cave. On a tour of the cave, it is better to go with a guide, who will tell interesting historical facts about these places. The entrance to the cave is accessed by stone steps, and the cave itself is shaped like a spacious yurt.

From Bolektau mountain, located near the same lake Borovoye, there is a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside: Lake Borovoye, Blue Bay, Big Chebache Lake, Okzhetpes mountain, Zhumbaktas rock. No one specially made the viewing platform on Bolektau, it was created by nature itself. No special training is required to climb Bolektau, the mountain is only 147 meters high. There is a belief that a stone found on the top and left at the foot of Bolektau is capable of fulfilling a cherished wish.

The Borovoe reserve and resort area is a great natural attraction in itself. There is a well-developed tourist infrastructure: there are recreation centers, hotels, and hostels, guests are offered to rent boats, catamarans, bicycles, quad bikes. The most popular recreation place within the protected resort area is Lake Borovoye, surrounded by mountains, rocks, and caves. Fishermen visit Bolshoye Chebachye and Shchuchye Lake.

Attractions of the North Kazakhstan region:

•    Botay Settlement on the bank of the Iman-Burluk River
•    Ishim River
•    Shalkar-Imantau Zone of the North Kazakhstan Region
•    Zhumbaktas Rock
•    Kenesary Cave
•    Bolektau Mountain
•    Nature Museum at Borovoye Lake
•    Borovoye Lake Zoo
•    Abylai-Khan Glade
•    Mount Kokshe
•    Borovoye lake
•    Okzhetpes mountain
•    Grove of Dancing Birches
•    Shchuchye lake
•    Big Chebache Lake and Small Chebache Lake
•    Church of Elijah the Prophet in Imantau
•    Imantau Mountain
•    Imantau Lake
•    Imanburlyk River
•    Snake River
•    The Remnants of the Ancient Relict “Silver Pine Forest”
•    Syrymbet historical and ethnographic museum of Sh. Ualikhanov
•    Aiganym Estate
•    CashVille casino at Borovoye Lake
•    Lake Karoi
•    Meshchanka forest
•    Lake Kishkibish
•    Karasai-Agintai Batyr Memorial Complex
•    Petropavlovskoye Water Reservoir
•    Akan Sere Sculptural Composition
•    Lake Shalkar
•    Monuments to Victims of the Great Patriotic War in Bishkul Village
•    Climatic and Koumissotherapeutic Resort Burabay 
•    Kokshetau Mountain
•    Blue Bay