Kazakhstan: Sor Tuzbair
Alien landscapes of Mangistau continue at Sor Tuzbair, a large area of solonchaks (salt pans and marshes) and eroded yellow sandstone badlands and cliffs – it’s quite reminiscent of the Death Valley in the USA (similarly to Death Valley, this are is also below the sea level). Sparkling salt pans, show white clay mountains and bright yellow cliff – this is what Mars probably looks like. And not a person in sight for miles and miles, except occasional lonely camels. For panoramic views, you can climb up the crumbling white cliffs to mountaintops. An absolutely stunning and massive sandstone arch at Sor Tuzbair saltpans, easily a rival in scale to the arches of the Arches National Park in the USA. A short hike takes you to the bottom of the arch and with a short scramble you can climb right into the opening for spectacular photos of the massive natural opening and tue panorama of the salt pans as fas as the eyes see. The best part? You can camp right here with the Milky Way of stars above you in an absolutely dark sky with zero light pollution.
