Out of Town

Photo: Noiembrie, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Burabay (Borovoe)

Location: Outside the city, approximately 250 km north of Astana (about 3 hours' drive), Burabay District, Akmola Region.

About this place: A national park featuring a system of 14 lakes nestled among pine forests and granite hills — often called the 'Swiss Alps of Kazakhstan'.

Burabay is the only place just a couple of hours from Astana where the steppe suddenly transforms into a pine forest, granite cliffs, and blue lakes, making it ideal for both day trips and weekend getaways with overnight stays at sanatoriums or rest camps. The main highlights of any route are Mount Kokshetau (Sinyukha), which offers views of the entire lake system, and the solitary Zhumbakas rock standing in the middle of the Blue Bay, which appears to transform from different angles — sometimes resembling a girl's face, sometimes an old woman's — hence its name meaning 'stone of mystery'.

History

Lake Borovoe was historically known as Aulieyekol — 'sacred lake' — and its waters were believed to possess healing properties. The area received the status of specially protected territory in 1935, became a national park in 2000, and after expansion in 2010, now covers almost 130,000 hectares with 14 lakes of various sizes. The highest point is Mount Kokshetau at 947 meters. The name 'Burabay' originates from a legend about a sacred camel named Bure, who warned the local inhabitants of danger and eventually turned to stone at this very location.

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