In the eastern part of Turkmenistan, you will find the most picturesque mountains of the country - the Kugitangtau, also known as the Koytendag. In Turkmen, their name translates to "mountains of deep canyons." And indeed, this mountain range is marked by numerous deep gorges with sheer cliffs, where sometimes the sky is visible only as a narrow strip overhead. It is also home to the deepest lakes, the longest caves, and even the Dinosaur Plateau, where traces of these prehistoric reptiles can be found. The highest point in Turkmenistan, Mount Ayrybaba, with a height of 3,139 meters, is located in this mountain system. Additionally, the deepest lake in the country, Kattakol, is found in the Koytendag Mountains.

The foothills of Koytendag are colored in red hues due to the emergence of multi-colored rocks on the surface. The slopes at medium altitudes are adorned with rare thickets of juniper trees, while the rocky peaks are covered with various grasses, flowers, and shrubs. Moreover, these mountains are often inhabited by mulberry trees, plane trees, and various fruit trees.

The caves hold a special place in the Koytendag Mountains, with a vast number of them present. They create a true underground system, which is also home to lakes. For example, in a karst sinkhole near the village of Karluk, there is a lake inhabited by a blind loach, a fish that spends its entire life in the darkness of this cave. Not far from this place, several other caves can be found, including Gulgirin, Hashimoyuk, Tashyurak, and others. This cave system is also known as the Karluk Caves.