Ybykty Canyon, Mangystau

Ybykty Canyon, a gem of the Mangystau region, may be small, but it packs a breathtaking visual punch with its winding, serpentine formations. Its cliffs twist and turn, creating unique silhouettes against the sky. The canyon walls feature an array of hole patterns that evoke images of honeycombs, bone textures under a microscope, or aerated chocolate, earning it the nickname "Ybykty Porous Gorge."

Dating back to the Paleogene era, some 60-40 million years ago, Ybykty is a geological masterpiece once submerged beneath the Neotethys Ocean. Over time, rainfall has sculpted the limestone into sharp relief, while rains today still etch into the stone, leaving a canvas where moss and algae sketch out past water levels.

The canyon's peculiar pockmarks were formed by ancient marine organisms or by chemical reactions deep in the ocean's pressure.

Venturing through Ybykty is an unforgettable experience, with canyon walls that narrow into tight corridors, admitting daylight only at midday or reflecting a perpetual twilight in its more secluded recesses. Its short stretch conceals a steep ascent, requiring ladders to navigate past large, natural steps.

Ybykty's allure is often compared to Arizona's Antelope Canyon, yet it stands apart with its porous formations and a different color palette. Sadly, it remains unprotected, and vandal's marks mar its accessible surfaces.

Visitors can explore the gorge's entrance, climbing to platforms to feel the rock's unique texture, similar to hardened sand. But safety is paramount, as the fragile overhangs are prone to collapse.

Those with trypophobia, a fear of hole patterns, might find this site unsettling, much like the similar but less abundant formations near the Shakpak-ata mosque, 70 kilometers away.

The direct distance from Aktau to Ybykty is about 50 kilometers, but the journey extends to 150 kilometers due to the road layout. To reach Ybykty, one must travel 130 kilometers on asphalt towards the village of Beki and then trek 30 kilometers west on a dirt track. Along this route, the Karaman-ata underground mosque near Ybykty is worth a visit.