Sherkala

{{short description|Mountain in Kazakhstan}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Sherkala

| other_name = Şerqala
Шерқала

| translation = Lion's Castle

| language = Persian

| photo = Sherqala.jpg

| elevation_m = 332

| elevation_ref =

| prominence_m =

| prominence_ref =

| range = Karatau Mountains

| parent_peak =

| location = Mangystau Province, Kazakhstan

| map = Kazakhstan

| map_caption = Location within Kazakhstan

| map_size =

| label = Sherkala (Шерқала)

| label_position = right

| coordinates = {{coord|44|15|23|N|52|00|22|E|type:mountain_region:KZ_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

}}

Sherkala ({{langx|kk|Шерқала|Şerqala}}, شەرقالا) is a mountain in Mangystau Province, western Kazakhstan, close to the town of Shetpe (Шетпе, Şetpe, شەتپە). It has been described as looking like a piala, yurt{{cite book |title=Kazakhstan – the Land of Wonders |last=Dosmuhambetov |first=T. |author2=Baipakov, K. |year=2010 |publisher=Publishing company BW-KZ |location=Almaty}} or Sphinx with steep south and east sides and a more eroded northern side.{{Cite web|url=http://visitkazakhstan.kz/en/guide/places/view/173/|title=Mountain-piala Sherkala / Attractions}}

The mountain is sited between the central and western Karatau Mountains.

Remains of a medieval caravanserei{{cite book |title=Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan |last=Mayhew |first=B. |year=2007 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=9781741046144 |page=159 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DwX-UTmC1GwC&q=Sherkala&pg=PA159 |access-date=2011-02-21}} and fort belonging to Jochi, Genghis Khan's elder son are on top and at the foot of the mountain.{{Cite web|url=http://visitkazakhstan.kz/en/guide/places/view/513/|title=Akmysh Stow and Sherkala Rock / Attractions}} A tunnel can be used to access the summit.

The ruins of the medieval settlement of Kyzylkala{{cite book |title=Kazakhstan: the Bradt travel guide |last= Brummell |first=P. |year=2008 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |location= England |isbn=9781841622347 |page=330 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-2ZAp-TgaSMC&pg=PA330 |access-date=2011-02-21}} and of Mankashlak (Mankyshlak), a Turkmen town on the Silk Road, are also nearby as is Torysh (The Valley of Balls).

The mountain was, according to legend, besieged by the Sheikh of Khoresm Astsyz after he had conquered Mankashlak. After four months the attackers dug a tunnel sideways through the mountain into the well shaft of the town above, cutting off their rope and forcing their surrender.

The name Sherkala is from Persian شیرقلعه, meaning 'Lion's Castle'.{{cite web |url=http://mangystau-view.com/en/places/sherkala |title=Sherkala |access-date=2015-06-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107220610/http://www.mangystau-view.com/en/places/sherkala |archive-date=2015-01-07 }}