Kazakhstan: Mount Sherkala
Mount Sherkala is one of the most famous mountains in the Mangistau desert, a prominent feature resembling a yurt (Kazakh national round dwelling), made from colorful limestone, clays, and sandstone. It is 332 m (1,089 ft) above the surrounding desert floor, one side resembling a round structure, while the other has eroded spires and caves. The inaccessible flat top actually has remains of an old castle and caravanserai. The name means Lion’s Castle in Persian. Supposedly, Mount Sherkala was besieged by Sheikh of Khorezm in the medieval times for months and the inhabitants survived in top until the supplies ran out.
