The Geological Park of Bershügir is becoming a reality! The final stage of registration is now underway in Astana. And all this is thanks to Academician Vladimir Vladimirovich Yurish. For 15 years, he has been ringing every bell, insisting on the need to preserve this fragment of the oceanic floor of the Paleo-Ural Ocean.
A-Z Geology, in turn, is determined to popularize this place as a tribute to the Academician’s work. This summer, we had the chance to visit the Shuyldaq River and to see with our own eyes a textbook example of an ophiolite complex. No need to travel all the way to Oman – Bershügir is enough to understand how the oceanic crust is layered, to witness the products of submarine volcanism, and even stretch out on pillow lavas. We were also fortunate to meet Vladimir Vladimirovich in person, both before and after the trip. The Academician is glad to finally have like-minded companions. In 2026, we plan to organize the very first field trip for everyone interested. It will be a 3-day course with the gathering point in the city of Aqtöbe. A word of warning: the logistics will be tough. The roads leave much to be desired; there are no hotels, no cell coverage, no place to wash up – so expect a tent camp, field kitchen, and pure romance of the field! We have received the blessing of the venerable master himself. He is truly glad that his long battle for Bershügir will bear fruit, and that many geologists will be able to see and study the Shuyldaq section.