Peaks
Ер Қалқан
786 m
Park geography
A comprehensive analysis of spatial dimensions, landscape features, and regional geography
Altyn-Emel National Park: geography
Location: Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. Recorded area: 4,600 km².
Kazakhstan's largest natural reserve featuring desert dunes, mountain landscapes, and ancient Saka burial sites
Altyn-Emel National Park
Altyn-Emel National Park is Kazakhstan's largest protected area, established in April 1996 in the southeastern part of the country within the Almaty Region. The park spans approximately 460,000 hectares between the Ili River Valley and the Aqtau mountain range, near the Kapchagai Reservoir. The landscape is predominantly desert and rocky terrain, though it also encompasses mountain spurs of the Dzungarian Alatau and several distinct mountain ranges that rise from the surrounding plains. The park serves as a crucial conservation area for Central Asian steppe ecosystems and contains significant archaeological monuments from the Iron Age Saka period. Its unique geological features include the famous Singing Dunes, a massive crescent-shaped barchan that produces an audible rumbling sound, and the colorful Aktau mountains often called the "lunar mountains" for their distinctive hues.
- Location
- Kazakhstan
- Park type
- National park
- Established
- 1996
- Area
- 4,600 km²
Location overview
National Park Geography in Kazakhstan and the Almaty Region
Altyn-Emel National Park Geographic Location and Regional Setting
Altyn-Emel National Park lies entirely within the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan. Geographic records confirm its status as an inland protected area managed under a single national jurisdiction.
- Countries
- Kazakhstan
- Regions
- Almaty Region
- Primary location
- Almaty Region
- Geographic setting
- Inland
Boundary and coordinates
Geographic extent and spatial dimensions covering 4,600 square kilometers
Mapping the Geographic Boundaries of Altyn-Emel National Park
The mapped outline of Altyn-Emel National Park provides essential spatial context for understanding its overall regional footprint. Geographic datasets detail the registered area, calculated perimeter, and coordinate span limits.
- Boundary area
- 5,223 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 380 km
- Northernmost point
- 44.4292° N
- Southernmost point
- 43.8321° N
- Easternmost point
- 79.5124° E
- Westernmost point
- 77.7933° E
- Geographic centre
- 44.0656° N, 78.7588° E
- North–south span
- 66.4 km
- East–west span
- 137.6 km
Terrain and natural features
Mixed relief classifications and recorded natural formations
Altyn-Emel National Park Terrain and Named Natural Features
Altyn-Emel National Park maintains a mixed relief classification with registered mountain terrain within its borders. Linked feature cards supply names, types, measurements, and spatial relationships for recorded natural formations.
Selected named natural features
Peaks
Kishi Kalkan
956 m
Peaks
Ulken Kalkan
1,281 m
Waterfalls
Мади
Peaks
Қатутау таулары
Natural springs
Шыган
Environmental setting
Arid climate zones, sparse forest cover, and mixed relief classifications
Altyn-Emel National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Setting
Recorded landscape features, habitat types, and climatic zones form complementary interpretive categories for the physical setting of Altyn-Emel National Park. Connected classification records link stored environmental traits directly to relevant protected area destinations within the atlas.
- Relief
- Mixed relief
- Climate
- Arid
- Water
- Minor water
- Forest cover
- Sparse forest
- Seasonality
- Seasonal
Landscape features
Mountains · Desert · Valleys · Dunes · Grassland · Hills · Cliffs
Habitat types
Grassland · Steppe · Desert habitat · Temperate broadleaf forest · Riverine habitat
Park atlas
Explore Diverse Protected Landscapes across Almaty Region, Kazakhstan, for Broader Geographic Context
Discover Other National Parks and Protected Areas Near Altyn-Emel National Park
Continue your exploration of Central Asian protected areas by browsing additional national parks and conservation landscapes situated within and around Kazakhstan's Almaty Region. Compare geographic features, ecological zones, and specific protected area designations to deepen your understanding of the regional park geography and conservation efforts.
Natural monumentAlmaty Region
Mapped location lies within the park boundary#1 closest
South
Singing Dune (Поющий бархан) Natural Monument in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan
A stationary desert landmark within the Dzungarian Alatau foothills.
Singing Dune (Поющий бархан) is a prominent geological landmark in the Altyn-Emel National Park of the Almaty Region. This massive sand barchan, anchored between two mountain ridges, is recognized for its unique ability to produce resonant organ-like sounds. The surrounding terrain blends arid desert dunes with the striking silhouettes of the Dzungarian Alatau foothills and the distant Ili River valley.
- Relief
- Upland
- Scope
- Terrestrial
- Water
- Minor water
National parkAlmaty Region
10 km away#2 closest
Southeast
Charyn National Park
Explore its dramatic canyons and ancient Sogdian ash groves.
Charyn National Park, in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. Landscapes: mountains, canyons, and rivers.
- Area
- 1,250 km²
- Established
- 2004
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
Natural monumentAlmaty Region
About 30 km away#3 closest
Southeast
Charyn Ash Grove Natural Monument and Riparian Forest Landscape in Almaty Region
Protected botanical relic in the Kazakhstan steppe
Charyn Ash Grove preserves a rare population of river-loving Sogdian ash trees within the arid landscape of southeastern Kazakhstan. This protected natural monument traces the moisture-rich corridors of the Charyn and Temirlik rivers, creating a vivid riparian ribbon surrounded by rugged semi-desert terrain and ancient archaeological features that define the regional geography.
- Area
- 48.55 km²
- Established
- 1964
- IUCN
- III
- Relief
- Lowland
National parkAlmaty Region
84 km away#4 closest
South
Kolsay Lakes National Park
Mapped Tian Shan mountain geography and glacial lake context.
Kolsay Lakes National Park, in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and lakes.
- Area
- 1,619 km²
- Established
- 2007
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
National parkAlmaty Region
About 96 km away#5 closest
Northeast
Zhongar-Alatau National Park: Protected Mountain Landscape and Genetic Heritage Atlas
Almaty Region's critical wild apple forest and glaciated terrain.
Zhongar-Alatau National Park in Kazakhstan's Almaty Region is a significant protected landscape renowned for its role in conserving the genetic origins of cultivated apples. The park encompasses dramatic glaciated mountain ranges, deep canyons, and diverse ecosystems within the Dzungarian Alatau. Its mapped boundaries define an area vital for protecting unique wild fruit tree species, including the Sievers apple, and preserving the distinctive alpine terrain of southeastern Kazakhstan, offering rich context for geographic exploration.
- Area
- 36 km²
- Established
- 2010
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
National parkAlmaty Region
About 103 km away#6 closest
Southwest
Ile-Alatau National Park
Mapped boundaries, diverse ecosystems, and mountain wilderness.
Ile-Alatau National Park, in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and forests.
- Area
- 2,000 km²
- Established
- 1996
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mixed relief
Nature reserveXinjiang
About 113 km away#7 closest
East
Xinjiang Wenquan Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve Protected Landscape and Atlas Geography
A vital montane spring and alpine grassland protected area in the Western Tianshan.
The Xinjiang Wenquan Xinjiang Salamander National Nature Reserve serves as a dedicated refuge for relict amphibian populations within the Tianshan mountain system. Its small footprint concentrates on preserving the integrity of cold-water spring brooks and snowmelt-driven seepage zones that form the backbone of this regional ecosystem. The reserve provides a clear example of targeted habitat management within the diverse topography of northwestern China.
- Area
- 6.95 km²
- Established
- 1997
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Arid
State or regional parkKyrgyzstan
About 142 km away#8 closest
Southwest
Chong-Kemin Nature Park: Mapped Protected Landscape in Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan Mountains
State or Regional Park with Alpine Valleys and Glacial Lakes
Chong-Kemin Nature Park offers a rich geographic exploration of Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan mountain region. This state or regional park encompasses approximately 123,564 hectares, defined by the extensive Chong-Kemin River valley and seven glacial lakes. Its landscape provides crucial habitat within a protected area, showcasing alpine terrain and river ecosystems. Users interested in mapped protected areas and regional park geography will find Chong-Kemin Nature Park a key point for understanding Kyrgyzstan's natural heritage.
- Area
- 1,235.64 km²
- Established
- 1997
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Alpine
MoriAtlas Explorer
Altyn-Emel National Park
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