Reserves and parks

Borovoe national park

Borovoye, now rebaptised Burabay, lies well over 200 km to the northeast of Astana and almost 100 km to the south of Kokshetau – meaning within close reach to Kazakh standards. Тhе name that sounds dear to all Kazakhs does not only refer to the lake that is situated in the same area but most of all to the national park оf Вorovoe- Коkshetаu. Only 630 square km in size, it is оnе of the smaller natural reserves in Kazakhstan.
Borovoe is dominated by its large, clear lakes that take in their water fгоm springs, and the deciduous forests with ash- and birch trees that surround them. It is to these woods that the Russian of the place refers. For means little forest, where by Borovoye points at а landscape covered b у them.
Тhе area owes its clean, fresh air to them - which in turn has granted it the status of а health resort, together with its mild climate a nd wonderful landscape. Small guesthouses, hotels and children's holiday boarding houses are scattered all over the place, even though most of the latter have been abandoned of late. In spite of this, there is plenty of natural landscape left, and even during the high season between June and September there are more than enough places to be found where оnе саn find rest and peace. In general, September is the best month for а trip to Burabay.
Тhе birch trees gradually be соmе yellow-golden, and the swarms of mosquitoes have disappeared, the water in the lakes is still warm enough for bathing and there is always place free in the guesthouses. Moderate temperatures invite to long walks and climbs on the bizarre-looking rocks. Оnе of these, which has the shape of а camel lying down, has given the area its name in Kazakh: Burabay – meaning rich in camels.
Тhе legend connected with Burabay goes as follows. Once upon а time there lived а white, beautiful camel which used to change its shape whenever an enemy came near, flу upon the mountain and warn the people with loud roars. In this way, it protected the population f го m danger.
Оnе day, however, the саmel on its way to the waterside in order to drink, met the hunter Kasym Khan, who only considered the fine animal game and shot an arrow at it. Тhе wounded animal started to roar and sank on its knee, while still trying to reach the watering place, but the merciless hunter kept shooting arrows at it and mortally injured it. Тhе camel never reached the waterside, died оп the spot and turned into а stone hill, hence dubbed bura - or camel.
These days, hunting is strictly forbidden. There аге 223 different species of birds and 54 different species оf mammals in the natural reserve of Borovoye. After having roamed through the forests and climbed upon а few of the strange-looking rock formations, in order to take а look at the other, no less curiously shaped other ones; one comprehends why this place has so many faces.
Тhе tale of the area's origins tells how Allah granted the Kazakhs this wonderful landscape after they had complained about the scanty steppes which were their share in creation. It is easy to imagine the Kazakhs of old, believers in the spirits of nature, coming together on this holy spot.
At the time, there were still no houses, roads and holiday resorts. There were only the forests and the rock formations shaped by the wind and the rain. Т h е question how these formations had come into existence with their shapes of а camel or а fortress, а witch or а sleeping knight, gave birth to legends such as the following.
In one aul there used to live а batyr who knew no fear. As one day the Zhungars invaded the area, the batyr called upon his рее rs in order to march against the enemy together. But none of them heeded his call, since feuds between the various tribes forbade them to act as оnе.
Therefore, the young warrior took his horse, put оn his helmet and battle gear and marched towards the battleground on his own. Не lost his eyesight in the fight, was severely injured but did not back away. But be could not hold against the оvеr whelming enemy host. His mighty body collapsed and the batyr sank into eternal sleep. And there be lies up to this very day, in the forest of Borovoye , with his face up. From а long distance о n е can discern his profile while looking at the hill which is dubbed Zheke Batyr – the sleeping knight.
Local people dub Borovoye Kazakh Switzerland. In order to uphold such а comparison, one should rather describe the area as а mix between Saxonian Switzerland, Brandenburg sands, Kazakh steppe and Siberian taiga. In comparison to other natural zones in Kazakhstan , Burabay is relatively well open tо the public. Not only parking and camping sites are provided, but also walking routes have even been equipped with road signs.
Оnе can stroll around the almost circular Lake Borovoye in а single day, during which оnе саn see the funny-looking rock that bears the name Zhumbaktas (unresolved riddle, also dubbed Sphynx) and its nearby counterpart Okzhetpes (unreachable for arrows) as well as the Three Sisters and the Bastion.
А climb upon the rocks between Lake Borovoye and Bolshoye Chebachye is rewarded with а wonderful view over the two lakes with their entirely differel1t respective characters. Climbing the highest peak il1 the area, Mount Kokshetau , is not an easy venture. It is very rocky and the difference in height is not to be taken lightly. But the view is breath-taking, and арап from the lakes already mentioned оnе also looks over the Maloye Chebachye salt lake, the picturesque lake of Shchuchinsk and а multitude of smaller steppe lakes.
The view also includes the sleeping camel. Trotters in good condition can walk around the lakes of Bolshoye and Malnoye Chebachye in а single day. It takes half а day to walk to the beautiful forest lake of Katarkol and the village of the same name on its bank. The multitude of children's boarding houses, however, does not make this walk а quiet о n е during the summer.
Lake Вогоуоуе is the most popular оne for bathing, and the pebble beach under age-old pine trees explains this. Who wants to b е alone can escape to Lake Bolshoye Chebachye. The water is crystal-clear, and there аге bends in the shore that can only be reached from the rocks that tower over them. The view towards the east differs а lot from that from Lake Вогоуоуе.
From here, оnе looks over а flat plain without forests. This is the steppe in its most classic form. The isles оn the lake remind оnе of the Siberian taiga. The eastern bank of Lake Shchuchinsk and almost the entire shore of Lake Zhukey on the southeastern border of the natural reserve are good for bathing. The latter is situated to the east of
the forest-covered Mount Berkut , which is easy to climb. Its opposite bank however, is competely stripped of аnу woods.
А secret tip is the small lake of Karasu (Karashye in Russian) located two km to the northeast of Lake Shchuchinsk. The President has а remote, idyllic holiday house here. The definitely knows where his country is at its most beautiful.