Karagiye Depression
Қарақия ойысы
A huge depression 132 m below sea level and the lowest land point in the Commonwealth of Independent States, with cliff-top viewpoints over the barren valley floor.
Karagiye Depression is about 40 km long, with its lowest point around -132 m, making it one of the deepest land depressions in the world and the lowest point in the former Soviet Union. Its edges are steep chalk cliffs, and lookouts on the rim reveal salt marshes and gullies on the floor below. About 50 km from Aktau, it is the closest desert landscape to the city and can be visited in half a day, which makes it suitable for travelers with limited time. The valley floor is extremely hot in summer, so descending to the bottom is not recommended.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Aktau Lighthouse
- Mangystau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore
- Aktau Caspian Embankment
- Koshkar-Ata Necropolis
- Sherkala Mountain
- Airakty Valley of Castles
- Torysh Valley of Balls
- Shakpak-Ata Underground Mosque