The two fangs of the Boszhira Valley in Mangystau

The Boszhira Mountains are often called "The Fangs of the Ustyurt Plateau". They are located in the western part of the Ustyurt Plateau on the Mangyshlak Peninsula. These two fangs are formed from limestone stretched more than 200 meters upwards of their base. At a distance of 300 km from the city of Aktau, in the middle of the snow-white terrain, you will feel like you are on another planet. There are no trees, lakes, or rivers in this area. There is just a peacefully silent valley, and in the middle of it, the** remarkable two fangs, rising high above the Boszhira Valley.**

What is Boszhira?

Boszhira is a creation of natural elements of the Ustyurt Plateau. Nowadays, the plateau abruptly ends with a cascade of clay-limestone steps. This unique natural formation is called chink. Nature created a fascinating landscape in white chalk that looks out of this world. The valley occupies a vast area and exploring all of it would take more than one day. This place remains a hidden gem, especially suited for adventurists and active people. The cosmic landscapes of the Boszhira Valley consist of limestone deposits that were once the bottom of the ancient Tethys Ocean that existed over 10 million years ago; the predecessor of all modern seas and oceans. At the bottom of a giant canyon, visitors can still find petrified shells and teeth of the ancient sharks.

Closer look at Boszhira's fangs

The Boszhira Valley has two options for those who would like to visit it: hiking tours and road trips. The most famous place to visit is, without doubt, the foot of the fangs. In the past, it seemed impossible to get there, but over the years, the flow of tourists is slowly increasing, thus the road to reach the foot of the fangs was constructed. It is convenient to place a tent here and use this location as a base camp for exploring different parts of the valley. The most courageous tourists even stay overnight in order to look at the majesty of the two fangs of Boszhira during the nighttime, followed by the starriest sky that you can imagine.

How to reach the fangs of Boszhira?

The distance from Zhanaozen to Boszhira is 148 kilometers and from Aktau to Boszhira — 298 kilometers. You can fly to Aktau or reach it by train. From there, it is easy to catch a tourist bus or a shared-ride car that would get you there. The way to the Ustyurt Plateau is rather difficult due to the underdeveloped infrastructure, so it is not recommended to get to the Boszhira Valley on your own. Tourists will have the best time here if they find a guide who can explain the route and be around during the whole trip. In addition, make sure to visit it during the dry season, when the soil is dry, otherwise, the road can be very dangerous. In any case, if you have a local professional to guide you to the two fangs of the Boszhira Valley in Mangystau, there won't be a reason to worry.