Pass Mramorniy - China border
Kazakhstan Mountains and Waterfalls. Kazakhstan mountain districts

We move northwards to the spurs of South Altai. The road is asphalted allowing to drive comfortably at the speed of 40-60 km/h.

The road. Again we drive on the asphalted road that leads us to high Altai mountains. It is a habitat of very rare and endangered species - Altai mountain sheep - argali (Ovis ammon ammon Linnaeus, 1758), which is included in the Red Book of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). This is the only natural habitat of argali in Kazakhstan, represented by mountain steppe landscapes. Westwards from the road, in canyon, a wild mountain river flows - the Kaldzhir, in which taimen, umber, Siberian tench, askuch are found - excellent trophy for sport fishermen.

Pass "Mramorniy" 110 km away from Zaisan lake, again we have to forget about relatively good road for a long time.

After passing by Terekty settlement the asphalted road is no more available. Here 11 kilometers rising to Pass "Mramorniy" starts (height is 1399 meters above the sea level).

Gravel road passes along the frontier, separating China and Kazakhstan. A grand panorama of endless sands of Akkum desert - White Sands in China - is opened from the pass.

The pass area is the location of a nature habitat of endemic - Keller's Pyrethrum - Pyrethrum kelleri. Additionally the following plants grow here:

Galium krylowii, Zaisanee locoweed - Astragalus zaissanensis, Vereshagin's locoweed - A. veresczaginii, Bykov's meadow-rue - Thalictrum bikovii, Altai daphne - Daphne altaica, Goose onion - Gadea asutavica, spring asphodel - Adonis vernalis, Marmoreal onion - Allium marmoreum, Ledeburous almond -Amygdalus ledebouriana, peony intermediate - Paeonia intermedia, South Altai mat-grass - Stipa austroaltaica, etc.

Descending to green valley Akzhajlau - White Pasture. We drive into mountain-meadow and mountain-wood part of our tour. In spring and in early summer Akzhajlau looks wonderful - huge living carpet of blooming bright orange flowers - «zharki» (globe-flower European).

Joint project of OrexCA.com and KTA and KAGIR. Information is taken from CD "All about tourism in Kazakhstan"