{{Short description|Karst trench in Kazakhstan}} {{Infobox valley | name = Qaraqia oiysy | other_name = Karagiye Mountain Trench,<ref name="KTLOW"/><br /> Karagiye Depression | photo =View_of_Karagiye_Depression.JPG | photo_width =250 | photo_caption =View of Karagiye Depression | photo_alt = Karagiye Depression.JPG | map = Kazakhstan | map_width = 250 | map_alt = | map_caption = Karagiye within Kazakhstan | label = Karagiye | label_position = | coordinates = {{coord|43|24|0|N|51|47|24|E|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = | location = Mangyshlak Peninsula, Kazakhstan | elevation = -134 m| elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation_ref = | direction = | length = 40 km<ref name="KTLOW"/> | width = 10 km<ref name="KTLOW"/> | area = | depth = | type = Karst | age = | boundaries = | topo = | towns = | traversed = }}

'''Karagiye''' ({{langx|kk|Qaraqia}}; {{lit.}} "Black Jaw")<ref name="KTLOW"/> is a {{convert|40|km}}-long karst trench close to the Caspian Sea. At its lowest point at Vpadina Kaundy, it is approximately {{convert|134|m}} below sea level.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Timothy L.|last1=Gall|first2=Jeneen M.|last2=Hobby|title=Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations: Asia & Oceania|url=https://archive.org/details/worldmarkencycl000timo|url-access=registration|quote=%22Vpadina Kaundy%22.|publisher=Thomson Gale|date=2007|isbn=978-1-4144-1093-7|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> It is the lowest point in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, and the former Soviet Union. It is also known as the '''Karagiye Depression''' and '''Karagiye Mountain Trench'''.<ref name="KTLOW">{{cite book |title=KAZAKHSTAN THE LAND OF WONDERS |last= |first= |author-link= |year=2009 |publisher=BW-KZ |location=Almaty |isbn= |page= |pages= |url= }}</ref>

The trench was formed as soluble limestone, dolomite and gypsum dissolved forming potholes, funnels and caves that eventually collapsed. Today the trench features many scarps and offsets and generates long rain clouds caused by the air rising above it.<ref name="KTLOW"/> There is a vernal lake in the south-west of the trench and a stream rising from a drilled well that disappears back into the ground within the trench.<ref name="KTLOW"/>

The trench is inhabited by mouflon, corsac, snakes, hares and vultures. It is the only place within the Mangyshlak Peninsula where mushrooms grow and these are collected by locals.<ref name="KTLOW"/>

==See also== *Karakiya District *Caspian Depression *List of countries by lowest point *List of places on land with elevations below sea level

==References== {{Commons category|Karagiye}} {{reflist}} {{Deserts}}

Category:Deserts of Central Asia Category:Deserts of Kazakhstan Category:Depressions of Kazakhstan Category:Lowest points of countries Category:Karst Category:Landforms of Europe Category:Landforms of Asia

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