It's times like these that give you the feeling of being a world away from civilization. Sauran, not to be confused with Sauron from Lord of the rings, is just that place. This once grand fortress measuring approximately a kilometer in diameter, sticks up from the Kazakh Steppe, 43 kilometers north-west of Turkistan. Coming here you'll have the entire place to yourself. Only dromedaries and the occasional car can be spotted traversing the highway to Kyzylorda further north. If it wasn't for the dry climate keeping this place in tact the brittle walls would perish. The fortress was occupied by the White Hoards in the 13th Century, which harks back to the days of The Silk Road. The sheer emptiness is likely to fill you with astonishment. Just that and trying to get your head around the open space and stillness is a task in itself. #fortress #views #photography #remote