Uzunbulak Canyon (Moon Canyon)

Uzunbulak Canyon is often called White Canyon or Moon Canyon. White clay gives the canyon its color. It is located near the Valley of Castles along the Charyn River.

This area is strikingly beautiful: a spring with crystal clear water flows between white walls. The clay cave, about 30 meters deep, is worthy of attention too. On the walls of the cave ancient rock paintings are preserved, they are about 2,000 years old.

If you go along the stream to the North, you'll see a picturesque yellow-lilac granite canyon, overgrown with trees, shrubs and reeds. Some passages are very narrow and quite long.

Since the Uzunbulak Canyon is located in the desert climate of the Almaty Province, it is sizzling hot in summer. The best time to visit it is late March – early May and September-October.

In the canyon, one can often see fresh traces of water flow, that washes away the banks and demolishes trees. This suggests that mudslides sometimes sweep through here.