There is a Kazakh legend about the Great Flood, which involves an ark with 80 men, led by the prophet Nuh. On this ark, there were many animals, birds, insects who sought shelter from the waves outside. For seven months, seven days, and seven hours, the ark sailed to Mount Kazygurt, a ridge that stretches 49 kilometers (30.44 miles) from the southwest to the northeast. Its highest point rests at 1,769 meters (5803.8 feet) above sea level and located 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) away from Shymkent, a city in the Western Tien Shan mountains. During this voyage, Nuh prayed to the creator for the salvation of the defenseless people and animals.
The high mountains believed the ark would stick to it for safety, but only the mountain Kazygurt didn't dream of it as it was modest compared to the others and knew that it didn't stand out like the other mountains. However, the Creator sees the modesty of Kazygurt and keeps the waters from flooding its peak, so the ark stuck to its side. The other mountains, arrogant and jealous, decide to punish Kazygurt, but she calls to the small mountains of Ordabasy, Kyzylsengir, Alimtau, Koilyk, Anki, Baganaly, and Mansar & Kanyrak for help. This alliance made them fearful, so they only struck the ridge of Kazygurt. This led to the creation of hollows and depressions on the mountain of Kazygurt, appearing like a bactrian camel.
At first, they released birds from the ark, thinking they would find out if the flood dissipated. Many flew away and didn't return, but only a swallow returned, with a green twig in its beak. Since this time, the swallow has been a bird revered by the Kazakhs. If you ever read Kazakh fairy tales, it is the swallow that only does good deeds.
The people that landed on Mount Kazygurt stayed on top of it to live as it's viewed as a sacred mountain. Its name, Kazygurt, means "Fair Wolf" because in the time of famine that followed the flood, a she-wolf violated the ban on killing the living, so the wolf punished her.
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