W estern Kazakhstan is where Europe and Asia meet, at the Caspian Sea. The Karagie depression, 132 m below sea level, is the lowest point in the world after the Dead Sea. In medieval times the Great Silk Road passed through modern-day Mangyshlak, and remnants of those days survive in a caravanserai and the small towns of Sartash, Alta, Sherkala and Kotyk. This part of the country has many historic buildings:Beket-Ata wdShakpak-Ata, underground mosques carved out of the rock (12- 14th centuries), and the Yeset-batyr memorial complex. There are about 600 necropolises here. Various itin eraries are possible, from travelling in a camel caravan to exploring the famous Aleksan-drov caves, or simply driving around historic sites.
    The region also offers many natural wonders, such as the vast Ustyurt plateau, the limestone desert between the Caspian and Aral Seas. The Irgiz nature resewe (348 hectares) is populated by pink flamingo, wild boars, steppe antelope and other rare animals. The Caspian Sea is a unique trea-sure-trove of fish, especially sturgeon - beluga, osiotra and sevruga. Atyrau caviar is known the world over. This is a good place for fishing and underwater hunting.