Altyn-Emel National Park is located in the southeast of Kazakhstan, in the Zhetysu Region, approximately 250 kilometers from Almaty. Established in 1996, the park spans over 300,000 hectares and serves as a protected natural area that combines desert, mountain, and steppe landscapes.
The park is renowned for its unique natural and cultural-historical landmarks. Among them is the Singing Dune, a sand dune up to 130 meters high and about 1.5 kilometers long, which produces melodic sounds in the wind, reminiscent of organ music. The Aktau Mountains, over 400 million years old, are known for their colorful slopes, while the Katutau Mountains feature ancient volcanic formations.
The park is also home to the Bes-Shatyr Saka burial mounds, dating back to the 8th–3rd centuries BCE, and the Tanbaly Tas petroglyphs, which reflect the region’s ancient history. In the Kosbastau area stands a 700-year-old willow tree, recognized as a natural monument.
The park's flora includes around 1,800 plant species, many of which are rare and endemic. Its fauna includes more than 390 species of vertebrates, such as argali (wild sheep), kulan (Asiatic wild ass), goitered gazelles, and Przewalski’s horses — many listed in Kazakhstan’s Red Book of endangered species.
In 2023, Altyn-Emel National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the transnational nomination "Cold Winter Deserts of Turan," highlighting its global importance for preserving natural and cultural heritage.
