Turkmenistan: Yangykala Canyon – Badlands Panorama

Yangykala Canyon is a truly stunning natural wonder often called the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia. Millions of years ago, the area now known as Yangykala Canyon was submerged under the ancient Tethys Sea. As the sea receded, it left behind sedimentary layers rich in minerals like iron oxide, which contribute to the canyon’s vivid coloration. Erosion from wind and occasional rainfall further carved the landscape into the dramatic cliffs and formations. It is quite similar to sandstone formation in Utah and Arizona and even more so to the Bozhira in the Mangistau region of the neighboring Kazakhstan.