Kapamsay Canyon

Kazakhstan, Tub-Karagan Peninsula, Western Kazakhstan

Kapamsay Canyon is four kilometres southwest of Shakpak-Ata. When approaching it from afar, you’ll see the white-sided walls of the chasm peeking up above the vegetated plateau. It’s 4 km long, up to 70 m deep, and the canyon floor is strewn with car-sized boulders. There are similar sized canyons either side of Kapamsay: Kokbulaksay 7 km to the west, and Shakpaktysay 4.5 km to the east, which is near Shakpak-Ata.

Photo by Valeria Bolotova is licensed with CC BY 2.0.

In one corner of the canyon there’s a mini oasis tucked away in a grotto and surrounded by a mulberry tree grove. Take care if you’re exploring harder-to-reach rock niches and caves as eagles nest in the area. It’s the perfect place to kick back and beat the heat. According to archaeologists, Neolithic communities mined Kapamsay’s rock for manufacturing stone tools.

Coordinates:

Kapamsay Canyon (RUS—Каньон Капамсай): 40931841688137, 51.07853151298265
Shakpaktysay Canyon (RUS—Каньон Шакпактысай): 40694487337311, 51.13840987342421
Kokbulaksay Canyon (RUS—Каньон Кокбулаксай): 44.440611128640384, 51.00093567439078

Resources:

1:200k Soviet map of the Buzachi Peninsula’s canyons, identified by the knotted contour lines in the top left quarter.
Short video of Kapamsay Canyon
Natalia Pervukhina’s illustrated trip report from an extensive drive around Mangystau, which includes photos of Shakpaktysay Canyon.

Kapamsay Canyon

Coordinates:

Resources:

See More Places: Tub-Karagan Peninsula

Cape Zhigylgan

Tyuleniy Archipelago

Tamshaly and Meretsay Canyons