Stone Forest
Jarakuduk TRACT

“Stone Forest” is a unique natural phenomenon which is located at the Jarakuduk (or Jarakydyk) tract, in the Kyzylkum desert. This unique place lies in the reserve part of the Mingbulak foothills at the altitude of 12 meters below sea level (near the highway of Uchkuduk-Nukus). The Jarakuduk tract is a group of canyons with a total area of 30 km². They consist of rocks of the Late Cretaceous period (80-100 million years ago). 

Ancient trees have been mineralized here under the influence of climatic conditions and turned into actual stones. The fossilized trunks of the ancient forest resemble organ pipes. Such phenomena have been found elsewhere only from Bulgaria and Chile. Some fossilized rocks have marks of the teeth of marine inhabitants. Thanks to this object, scientists managed to discover that the territory of Kyzyl Kum was once the bottom of the ocean, and at different times animals such as dinosaurs, crocodiles, sharks and rays lived here. 

If you wish to go to Jarakuduk track make sure to hire a professional guide who knows the way as otherwise it can be life threatening to try to reach this place. It is easy to get lost in the harsh conditions as there are no roads in the desert, just several kilometers of rugged sands and exhausting heat, away from the settlements and roads.