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Charyn Canyon (, ), also known as the Sharyn Canyon (, ) is a canyon on the Charyn River in Kazakhstan. It is located about east of Almaty, close to the KazakhChinese border. The canyon is roughly in length. It is part of the Charyn National Park established on 23 February 2004 and is located within the territory of the Uygur District, Raiymbek, and Enbekshikazakh Districts of the Almaty Region. The canyon features many formations formed by the weathering of sedimentary rock. Though it is much smaller than the Grand Canyon, it has been described as being equally impressive.
The Charyn Canyon consists of 5 different canyons: the Valley of Castles (the most popular part of the Charyn Canyon), the Temirlik Canyon, the Yellow Canyon, the Red Canyon and the Bestamak Canyon. There are also a number of smaller canyons or tracts, including the Kurtogay Canyon and the Tazbas tract.
The geological formation of the canyon consists of sedimentary red sandstone that has been subject to the "atmogenic process", defined as "atmospheric origin by condensation, wind action, or deposition from volcanic vapors". This water and wind erosion has resulted in rock formations which resemble colourful sculptures. One section of the canyon is known as the Valley of Castles ( Dolina Zamkov) for its unusual rock formations.
The Relic Forest is located approximately away from the canyon. The forest, located in the shadow of the canyon, is known as the "Sogdian ash" (Ash Tree) (a tree that is said to be a derivative from the ice age). The site is considered unique on various accounts. It was declared a protected reserve in 1964. It is now integrated with the Charyn National Park. Apart from the Ash Tree, other tree categories in the area include the willow, Populus, and barberry. The area can be accessed from a road originating at Almaty that passes through Kokpek, Shonzy and Zharkent.
The canyon can be accessed from Almaty on the main road that passes through the villages Shelek, Baiseit, and Kokpek (at a distance of about ). From there, a signposted road leads to the parking area of the canyon over a distance of and passes through the Sharyn (or Charyn) National Park. From the parking area, there is a track that leads to the canyon. Another path from the park, in length, leads to an area with more scenic views of the canyon.
A canyon up to one and a half kilometers wide and a gorge up to 160 meters deep represent the middle part of the Temirlik River. The length of the tract is 11 km. There are canopies, narrow slits, corridors, niches everywhere on the slopes of the gorge. The picturesque canyon with pillars, winding corridors, and crevices is very similar to its "older brother", the Charyn canyon, and the green strip is tight framed by red rocks of low rock formations makes an extraordinary impression and creates a picture of a colorful wild corner of nature. The scientist, naturalist, entomologist and writer P. I. Marikovsky called the Temirlik tract Nightingale Canyon for the songs of nightingales that can be heard in the area. Marikovskiy assumed that in the tract lived people who found and processed iron ore.
In May 2021, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources announced that efforts will be made to develop tourism in the Charyn Canyon region with an emphasis on historical heritage as well as ecotourism.
In 2021, the Chair of the Kazakh National Geographic Society, Orman Nurbayev, along with project manager Zhanibek Alkeev, announced the addition of eco-toilets, gazebos, shade awnings, drinking fountains, and observation decks to the Charyn Canyon tourism area.
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