Ayrakty-Shomanai
Fifteen kilometres north-west of Shetpe town is Ayrakty-Shomanai, or as 19th-century Ukrainian artist-poet Taras Shevchenko preferred to call it during his stay in Mangystau, ‘The
On the south-west side of the Tub-Karagan Peninsula is the half-kilometre-long Golubaya Bay (aka Blue Bay), which is sandwiched between the Uzynkuduk and Tulkili Gorges. Less than a kilometre inland is Tulkili Fortress. Isolated stretches of sandy beach and unnamed rocky coves extend either side of the bay. Fifteen kilometres to the south is Cape Segendi (aka Cape Sagyndyk or the ‘Devil’s Finger’), near Shell Beach, and the nearby popular fishing spot of Maikin Kurgan.
The bay and surrounding areas are home to some wildlife, such as gazelles, the occasional saiga herd, migratory birds, snakes, and lizards. In autumn, there are berries to pick and springtime brings beautiful flowering plants.
In theory, the Aktau-based Breeze Yacht Club and SSI Diving Centre might arrange a sailing or diving trip along Mangystau’s coastline, including to the bay. Two other charter options are the Zhetysu Sailing Club, which organised a 150-kilometre-long multi-hull boat regatta between Aktau and Cape Segendi in 2019, and Arenda Yacht Aktau’s fleet of deluxe sailing catamarans.
Golubaya Bay (Kök Şyğanağy/Голубая Залив): 44.1704, 50.8528
Uzynkuduk Canyon (Ūzynqūdyq Joly/Урочище Узынкудук): 44.1455, 50.9154
Tulkili Canyon (Tülkili Joly/Урочище Тулькили): 44.1930, 50.8840
Tulkili Fortress (Tülkılı Bekınısı/Крепость Тулькили): 44.1713, 50.8626
Cape Segendi/Sagyndyk (Segendı/Sağyndyq Müiıs, Мыс Сегенди/Сагындык): 44.0310, 50.8749
Shell Beach (Şell Jağajaiy/Ракушечный Пляж): 44.0577, 50.8717
Maikin Kurgan (Maikin Qorğan/Майкин Kурган): 44.0177, 50.8831
360-degree photograph of Golubaya Bay.
1:100k map of Golubaya Bay. Cape Segendi is at the bottom and Golubaya Bay is roughly in the middle of the larger crescent-shaped bay, directly east of the “44°10’, 50°45’’” coordinate marker.
Fifteen kilometres north-west of Shetpe town is Ayrakty-Shomanai, or as 19th-century Ukrainian artist-poet Taras Shevchenko preferred to call it during his stay in Mangystau, ‘The
Kapamsay Canyon is a few kilometres south-west of Shakpak Ata. When approaching it from afar, you’ll see the white-sided walls of the chasm peeking up
Twenty kilometres north of Senek village is Shopan Ata, a circa 10th-century underground mosque that is one of Mangystau’s oldest religious sites. It was first