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This study examines the etymology of the principal physiographic entities of the ancient Sary-Arka area–meaning in the old Turkic language Yellowing Ridge – encompassing the present territory of parkland-steppes, rocky highlands and the adjacent mountains of North and East Kazakhstan. The current linguistic evidence points to a complex and chronologically long culture-historical development reflected by the local place names best-recorded for the major rivers and mountains (hydronyms and oronyms, respectively). Not all geo-site names are securely determined by using modern onomastics. Records of material culture provide additional multi-proxy information. Local uniformity of some toponyms across the extensive area assuming a common cultural background attests to a broader ethnic homogeneity and/or mobility of the ancient populations inhabiting this vast and geomorphically mosaic land. This suggests a close relationship and interactions (including demographic exchanges and mixing) between the past pastoral ethics in the parkland-steppe and semi-desert areas north of Lake Balkhash between the Aral Sea and the southern Urals in the West and the Alatau–Altai Mountain systems in the East. Whereas the hydronyms of the Sary-Arka may have a rather complex and not fully clear origin with a connection to the Turkic-Tatar medieval tribes and nations’ occupancy in northern Central Asia eventually modified into the present Kazakh language forms, the oronyms of the East Kazakhstan mountain ranges indicate the Mongolian roots.

The article deals with the occurrence of Cretaceous deposits in the territory of Aktobe region and geographical ground of their reflection in local toponyms. Aktobe region is characterized by the complexity of the terrain in West Kazakhstan. Terrain features are influenced by its geological structure and terrain-forming factors. The map presents a selection of toponyms including the words ak, bor, saz, kum, shagyl which correspond to the formations of lower Cretaceous and upper Cretaceous deposits widespread in the western part of the region. The percent of oronyms, hydronyms and oikonyms in the toponyms of 141 names selected in the study area was analyzed with subsequent representation on the diagram. The analysis of the names of Aktolagay, Akshatau, Belogorka, Aktau, Akzhar, etc., indicating the reflection in toponyms of such physical properties of rocks as composition, color and the rate of their frequency is carried out, the results are presented in a table. The map shows the position of geographical features corresponding to the outcropping Cretaceous beds and photos of the area are provided.

The purpose of the article is to study the geological objects of the Aktobe oblast and their use for the development of geotourism in the region. The analysis of published materials and field research data shows that the geological objects of the Aktobe oblast have all the properties and have much possibility to actively develop geotourism which depends on the level of local management and investments. The GAM method was used to assess geological objects. This method presents various estimates of main values (MV) and additional values (AV), which are very useful to preserve and develop the territory. As a result, the method provided different estimates in the development of geotourism.

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