The canyon's massive chalk cliffs reach heights of up to 70 meters in places and stretch for 2.7 kilometers, with an average width of 140 meters. The canyon is located on the Tupkaragan Plateau in Mangghistau's Silicon Valley.
The slopes consist of Paleogene and Lower Neogene deposits. The Paleogene is composed of massive, chalky marls, white chalk, and limestone.
The cream-colored, sometimes dazzling white, walls reach heights of several dozen meters. At the bottom of the canyon lie some very large, fallen boulders.
Archaeologists suspect that a deep river once flowed at the foot of the chalk cliffs.
Today, the river is gone, but rainwater has collected in its reservoir, forming a pool. Thanks to the shade and moisture, a small grove or green oasis has formed among the cliffs.
The Paleogene is the oldest period of the Cenozoic Era (the modern geological era), beginning about 66 million years ago and ending with the Neogene around 23.3 million years ago.
It is the period after the extinction of the dinosaurs, during which mammals established themselves as the dominant land animals and evolved rapidly.
Proboscideans evolved into the largest land mammals.
Initially, the continents were isolated.
Around 27 million years ago, a land bridge formed between Africa and Eurasia, allowing animals to spread. This continental drift also led to the formation of the Molasse Sea in the Alpine foothills of Austria.
The climate was relatively warm at the beginning of the Cretaceous period and drier towards the end.
The Paleogene encompasses the Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs.
The term "Tertiary" is no longer used; instead, Paleogene and Neogene are used.
Translated by Google •
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