The Charun Gorge is part of the Charun National Natural Park of Kazakhstan, located about 210 km east of the city of Almaty and is one of Kazakhstan's famous tourist attractions. The Charun Grand Canyon was formed by geological changes, like a narrow crack torn by the heavens in the heart of the grassland. Its magnificent scenery is comparable to the world-famous Grand Canyon of Colorado in the United States.
Due to the erosion of wind, frost, rain and snow over the years, each peak in the canyon has become different in shape and rocky. Some resemble roosters with their heads held high, some like mysterious castles, some like a butterfly in the wind, some like galloping horses, and every boulder here has an ancient legend.
The diversity of the landscape of the Charun Gorge contributes to the diversity of flora and fauna. More than 1,500 species of plants live in the gorge, 17 of which are included in the Red Book of Nature Conservation of Kazakhstan.
Descending to the bottom of the valley, look up at the cliffs formed by red rocks on both sides, each peak has become different and rocky due to the erosion of wind, frost, rain and snow over the years. Some resemble roosters with their heads held high, some like mysterious castles, some like a butterfly in the wind, and some like galloping steeds.
Every boulder here has an ancient legend. There is a huge rock like an ancient warrior wearing armor, who has been silently watching the tourists in the canyon. It is regarded as the incarnation of the most famous khan of the Kazakh nation in ancient times, the Abare Khan, who unified the tribes of the ancient Kazakh nation. Because the rocks here are all red, it is called Red Charon.
Out of Red Charon, through a hanging cave, he entered Black Charon. This section of the canyon is smaller than the Red Charon, and the rocks are fish-scaled, like a black waterfall.
The most famous thing here is that at the end of the gorge flows a river, and a small oasis is formed on both sides of the river. It is hard to imagine that such a precious river would appear on such a hot and water-scarce Gobi desert.