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Kaydak Bay

The Buzachi Peninsula’s far eastern edge overlooks the 15km x 100km Kaydak Bay salt marsh. A western branch of the bay’s shallow marshes extends more than halfway into the peninsula. Less than 200 years ago, when the Caspian Sea levels were a few metres higher, seawater covered these marshes, making the southern region of the Buzachi an isthmus linked to the Tub-Karagan Peninsula.

Depending on salinity, organisms, and water temperature, the marsh’s colours vary from grey and brown to pink and light green. Over the years, the retreating sea has led to coastal villages turning into ghost towns, like Prorva on the north side of Dead Kultuk.

Running along the bay’s east side, from the Kyzylsay Ravine area to southern Beineu town, is the 200-kilometre-long Western Chink Ustyurt. Some sections of the cliff line rise more than 200m above Kaydak Bay, offering stunning views – New Alexander Fort is located here, too. By comparison, the west side rises only 10m above the bay and marks the beginning of the Buzachi Peninsula’s deserts.

Kaydak Bay with pink waters.
Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)
Kaydak Bay and Dead Kultuk from space
Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)
Space photo of Kaydak Bay's southern end with water.
The southernmost extent of Kaydak Bay. Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)
A dried-up Kaydak Bay showing salt flats.
Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)
Kaydak Bay in winter with snow covering the land.
Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)
High shot from space showing Kaydak Bay, Dead Kultuk and Buzachi Peninsula.
Kaydak Bay leading into the shallow waters of Dead Kultuk and the Durnev Islands off the Buzachi Peninsula north coast. Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)

Coordinates:

  • Kaydak Bay (Qaidaq Şyğanağy/Залив Кайдак): 44.9124, 53.5524

  • Prorva (Прорва): 45.9893, 53.2657

  • Kyzylsay Ravine (Qyzylsai Saiy/Овраг Кызылсай): 44.1791, 53.2711

  • Beineu (Бейнеу): 45.3412, 55.1798

Resources:

Planning a visit? Check out our debut guidebook

Western Kazakhstan: The Kazakh Caspian Depression

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