The Legend of the Lonely Poplar

In the Samara District, northwest of Zhanazhol village, along the main road about 200 kilometers out, stands a solitary and majestic tree known to locals as «Zhalǵyz Terek» — The Lonely Poplar. Towering at 18–20 meters tall and with a trunk nearly 3 meters wide, this tree has become a landmark, a living memory, and a symbol of resilience.

When Zhanazhol village was first being established, a man named Käyen drove a simple stake into the ground where the poplar now stands. Come spring, whether from snowmelt or rain, something miraculous happened — that stake began to grow. By early summer, it had become a sapling, no taller than the surrounding wormwood.

No one paid much attention at first. But as the young tree took root and grew stronger, villagers began caring for it. In the hot summer months, fearing it would wither, they carried water from the nearby Espe River to keep it alive. Over time, the tree flourished.

Despite standing alone, the poplar thrived year after year, becoming more beautiful and impressive with each season. The locals came to cherish it — not only as a natural wonder but as a place to rest in its shade, a shelter and silent companion.

According to the village elders, Käyen had no children. Some say he planted the stake as a way to leave something behind, a legacy that would grow in his name.

By local estimation, the Lonely Poplar is now over a hundred years old. A single tree, grown from a forgotten stake, now stands proud — a testament to quiet devotion, community care, and the enduring hope of being remembered.