The Anrakai Mountains and Lake Alakol (Almaty region) were important strategic points during the entire period of the Kazakh-Dzungar confrontation. Access to the Sarysu, the Karkaraly Mountains and mountains of Ulytau took place from the river Chu. The different mountain landscapes provided good opportunities for cavalry attacks and maneuvers, and the tugai forests near the battle area allowed for covert concentration of troops.