The Qonyr Aulie Cave (Қоңыр әулие үңгірі) is located in the Aбай Region, Aбай District, on the western slope of the Shyngystau Ridge, approximately 18 km southeast of Toktamys village. From the outside, it looks like a barely noticeable small dark opening in the steep limestone cliff of Mount Aktas, but inside it reveals a completely different, spacious, and complex world.
The cave was formed naturally in the limestone rocks of Aktas. Its entrance is very narrow - only one person can barely pass through it, with a height of about 2 meters. After just a few meters, the passage suddenly widens and opens into a large, high hall. From this point onward, a complex structure begins: interconnected narrow corridors, turns, sloping passages, and suddenly opening chambers.
The total length of the cave exceeds 100-120 meters. In some places, its width expands up to 10-15 meters, while the ceiling rises in a dome shape reaching 20-25 meters in height. On the right side, there is an extremely narrow passage only 0.5 meters wide, which expands inside into a separate chamber. To the north are two large dome-shaped cavities, connected to the underground lake at the deepest part of the cave.
The most important feature of the cave is the underground lake, located in a natural rock basin. It is about 25 meters long, 10 meters wide, and 1.5-2 meters deep. The water is clear and fresh, but due to passing through limestone rocks, it has a slight mineral taste. Its most remarkable feature is a constant year-round temperature of around +4°C - it does not freeze in winter and does not warm in summer.
According to scientists’ assumptions, the lake may be connected to an underground water system. The water level changes seasonally but never fully dries up.
The cave’s microclimate is also unique: the average temperature inside remains around +7°C throughout the year. Even when outside temperatures drop to -30…-40°C, the water inside does not freeze, while in summer it remains naturally cool.
Locals consider the water of Qonyr Aulie Cave to have healing properties. It is believed to contain minerals, calcium salts, and according to some sources, silver ions. Therefore, it is thought to be beneficial for skin, eye, and joint diseases, and for overall strengthening of the body.
People do not only come here for healing - the site is also regarded as a sacred place for spiritual peace and inner calm. Immersion in the icy water is believed to provide a short-term boost of energy, improve blood circulation, and create a feeling of refreshment.
Thus, the Qonyr Aulie Cave is not just a geological formation. It is a unique natural and cultural heritage site, where natural phenomena, folk beliefs, and spiritual traditions intertwine, making it an important landmark of the Shyngystau region.
Source: e-history.kz