PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOTOURISM IN THE ATYRAU REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Paleontology, being one of the branches of geology, is a scientific discipline that helps to understand the evolution of life on Earth. The dissemination of information about paleontology is currently based on fossil finds and descriptions of their locations. The purpose of this work was to identify potential sites for geological tourism and summarize data based on the results of field research conducted in the Atyrau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article considers the possibility of developing paleontological tourism in the Atyrau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Significant paleontological sites such as the Koykara and Imankara Mountains, the Akkegershin Cretaceous plateau and the Sholkara upland are located in the Zhylyoy district of Atyrau region. Special attention should be paid to the Sholkara upland, located 130 km south-east of the city of Kulsary, where unique paleofauna specimens were found. The main locations of natural fossil sites (Koykara, Imankara Mountains, Akkegershin Cretaceous plateau, Sholkara) are described, and the species and genus of the found samples of invertebrates and vertebrates are determined. In 1931, the paleontologist A. Ryabinin discovered the vertebrae of a Cretaceous dinosaur in the Koykara massif, which was described as Embasaurus minax, which underlines the historical significance of the region for paleontological research. Various fossils have been found in these areas, including teeth and vertebrae of Otodus sharks, fragments of belemnites (Belemnitella mucronata), bivalves (Gryphea dilatata), sea urchins (Echinocorys), as well as single scleractinia corals (Caryophyllum similotrochus). Atyrau region has significant potential for the development of geological and paleontological tourism. There are resources for organizing guided tours and educational programs, including: the Paleontological Museum in Atyrau, which includes hundreds of authentic exhibits found in the region, such as teeth of prehistoric sharks, fossils of megalodons, plesiosaurs and mollusks. In general, Atyrau region has the prospect of developing geological tourism of an excursion and educational nature. For this purpose, the region has a large number of resources and various local history and environmental museums containing paleontological materials.