Saikan Ridge

(Source: Kelgembayeva Bakytzhan. El men zher tarihy: oku kuraly. – Oskemen: Media-Al’yans, 2005. – 168 p.)

The name of the Saikan Ridge comes from the name of the Turkic batyr Saihun. The Turkic Khaganate, founded in 552, was divided into two constantly warring khanates in 582 – Eastern and Western. One day, the famous commander of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate Kultegin, who lived in the 8th century, sets off on a campaign. Under his command is a batyr named Saihun, who shows great courage in battles.

On the way back, passing through the lands of Tarbagatai, many warriors began to feel thirsty, suffering from a lack of water. When they reached the mountain range of this region, they saw numerous water sources. The thirsty warriors rushed to the water to finally drink, but one of the elders stopped them. He stood up and said: «The water here is poisonous. You can’t drink it. Don’t drink it!» But Saihun Batyr could not resist and drank it, and soon fell ill and left this world. Saihun Batyr was buried here, where he died, and the ridge was named after him. Over the years, the word «Saihun» changed in sound and turned into the word «Saikan».