BURABAY

Discover the beauty and wonders of Kazakhstan

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Nature of the Burabay Resort Zone

Many hills, cliffs and rocks in Borovoye seem to be folded huge mattresses. As a result of weathering and the action of water and ice, hollows, depressions, overhangs, and through holes were formed in the rocks. Therefore, the mountains and rocks of Borovoye have acquired an unusually picturesque appearance, each of which is associated with legends or tales.

Interesting facts

Burabay (Borovoye) is called "the pearl of Kazakhstan" and "Kazakhstan's Switzerland".
Borovoye is home to about 300 species of animals and about 800 species of forest, meadow and solonchak plants.
Borovoye was nationalized and recognized as a resort of national importance as early as 1920.

Legends

The Legend of Burabay

The Kokshetau Mountains, known as the "Blue Mountains", got their name because of the blue sky and clean air. In the past, a white camel named Bura lived here, predicting dangers with its roar. People revered him as a sacred creature to protect them from harm. He warned of danger from a band of villains, but they decided to kill him. In the fight, Bura was mortally wounded by lunging at the bandit. Before he died, he returned to his lake and closed his eyes at the sacred Kaaba. Thus he turned into a 690-meter-high mountain, which received the name Burabay - Borovoye.

Jumbaktas rock

Zhumbaktas Rock is a local landmark. From different angles the rock looks different, from one side it resembles a pyramid, from the other side it resembles an arrow pointing to the sky, from the other side the rock resembles a Kazakh yurt, as well as the rock resembles a girl with hair developing in the wind. According to one of the legends, the khan had several sons and one daughter, the khan wanted to marry his daughter to another rich khan, but the girl fell in love with an ordinary guy and they ran away together. The angry khan sent his sons to bring back his daughter, the sons caught the lovers and when they sailed across the lake they killed her lover. The girl in grief asked Allah to turn her into a stone on the place where her lover was killed, Allah heard the request and fulfilled the girl's wish. Since then the rock of Zhumbaktas has been erected on this place.

Okzhetpes Mountain

Okzhetpes Mountain means "no arrow will fly" in Russian. One of the legends says that in ancient times in these places lived a formidable khan, who waged wars with neighbors. After another military campaign, the khan brought a lot of trophies, one of the trophies was a live Kalmyk girl. Khan allowed the girl to choose her own husband so that he would not force her to do it. The girl went up to the mountain Okzhetpes and hung there her handkerchief, she told the khan that the warrior who will hit the handkerchief with an arrow from the bow, she will marry. Not one of the warriors could not hit the handkerchief with an arrow and failed. Khan was angry and told the girl to come down from the rock, but the young maiden jumped from the rock into the lake Auliekol. At the place of the girl's fall, the rock grew, which symbolizes freedom of choice.

Birchwood Grove

In Borovoye there is a birch grove of intertwined trees. This is where the name Dancing Birches comes from, the trees are intricately intertwined and seem to be frozen in an endless dance. Legend says that once long ago in this place was held a holiday, girls from the neighboring village danced their dances here, and the khan who wanted to visit the event incognito disguised as a simple man and came to the holiday. He watched the girls dancing for a long time until one of them recognized him. When the girls recognized Khan, they were frightened and froze, and their bodies turned into birch trees.

Abylai-Khan Glade in Borovoye

In Kazakhstan, everyone knows about Ablai Khan (1711-1781). He was a prominent military leader and political figure of the 18th century, uniting all Kazakh juzes (tribal unions) around him. Ablai Khan's throne in Burabay, according to legend, fulfills the wishes of tourists. There is a legend that Ablai Khan possessed magical abilities, hence the throne on which he sat was considered enchanted. To have a wish granted, tourists need to circumnavigate the sacred spot seven times clockwise. The wish should either be made after circling the throne or repeated silently during the process.

Taskamal stone fortress in Burabay.

Taskamal is located in the Borovoye Nature Park between the villages of Shchuchinsk and Borovoye. The rock evokes different associations of its appearance or construction. Some of the researchers claim that the rock is of natural origin, alternative scientists say that this complex was built by an unknown highly developed civilization. It seems that the rock is really made of huge multi-ton blocks