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❄️ Cold Winter Deserts of Turan – Altyn-Emel East

Parks, Squares, Hills, & Mountains Kazakhstan Asia

❄️ Cold Winter Deserts of Turan – Altyn-Emel East
UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting temperate desert ecosystems in southeastern Kazakhstan


🕐 3 min read · Updated 17 Mar 2026 at 06:06
📌 Fast Facts
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2023 as part of the transboundary Cold Winter Deserts of Turan
  • Located within Altyn-Emel National Park in southeastern Kazakhstan, near the Tian Shan foothills
  • Represents one of the world's largest temperate desert regions, extending across Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
  • Known for extreme seasonal climate: winters below –20°C with snow; summers above +40°C

Altyn-Emel East lies in southeastern Kazakhstan within the Altyn-Emel National Park, forming part of the Cold Winter Deserts ...

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