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|  | KAZAKHSTAN COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | Kazakhstan is bordered by the Russian Federation, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. For centuries Kazakhstan's vast plains were home only to nomads and they are still virtually empty. Most settlements are concentrated in the southeast and the east of the Republic. South Kazakhstan is a focus of Central Asian history and there are many famous monuments in the region. It is a scenically diverse region where the snow-capped peaks, lakes and glaciers of the Tian Shan range give way to steppe and desert. The desert is home to the Singing Barkhan - a sand dune 2 miles long, which, as it crumbles, produces a peculiar singing sound. Almaty was until very recently the former capital of Kazakhstan and it enjoys a beautiful setting between mountains and plains. It is a city of modern architecture, cool fountains, parks and spectacular mountain views. Kazakh dishes include kazi, chuzhuk, suret and besbarmak (made from horse meat or mutton). There are a number of nightclubs and casinos in the main cities. Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers. Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a growing machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in a short-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - and a solid 9.5% in 2002 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. Growth remained at the high 9% level in 2003 and 2004. The opening of the Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised export capacity. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the oil sector, by developing light industry. Additionally, the policy aims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign personnel; the government has engaged in several disputes with foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements, and tensions continue. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | Nine-tenths of Kazakhstan is made up of steppe. For centuries these vast plains were home only to nomads and they are still virtually empty. Most settlements are concentrated in the southeast and the east of the republic where the plains give way to the mountains of the Altai and the Tien Shan. It is advisable to visit the country as part of an organised tour. Although independent travel is increasing, bureaucratic difficulties may still be encountered. For further information contact the Embassy (see address section).
The Spas
Kazakhstan has a wide range of spas offering various treatments. There are 98 sanatoria holiday hotels and 115 preventative medicine sanatoria. Most are located in areas with much to interest the tourist, such as sports, cultural events, historical and archaeological sites, and offer developed excursion facilities. The most internationally renowned resorts include Sari Agach (in the south), Mujaldi (in the Pavlodar region), Arasan-Kapal (in the Taldikorgan region), Jani-Kurgan (in the Kzil-Orda region), Kokshetau and Zerenda (in the Kokshetau region) and those located in Zaili Alatau.
The South
South Kazakhstan is a focus of Central Asian history and culture and there are many famous monuments in the region. It is a scenically diverse region in which all four seasons can be experienced in the space of a day, as the snow-capped peaks, lakes and glaciers of the Tien Shan range give way to steppe and desert land which stretches for thousands of kilometres. The mountains serve as a centre for mountaineering and skiing and there are resorts offering a wide variety of winter sports. The desert is home to the Singing Barkhan - a sand dune 80m (260ft) high and 3km (2 miles) long, which, as it crumbles and shifts, produces a peculiar sound reminiscent of loud singing.
Almaty
Almaty (formerly - Alma Ata) enjoys a beautiful setting between mountains and plains. It is a city of modern architecture, wide streets, cool fountains, parks and squares and spectacular mountain views and, particularly in spring and autumn, is an attractive place despite the inevitable legacy of Soviet architecture. Attractions in the city include the Panfilov Park, which is dominated by one of the world's tallest wooden buildings, built at the turn of the 20th century without using a single nail and the Zenkov Cathedral. This served in Soviet times as a concert and exhibition hall, but is currently standing empty, whilst the Christians of Almaty worship at St Nicholas Cathedral. Other sights include New Square, which is usually the location for national ceremonies and parades and is overlooked by the City Hall (the President's official residence) and the Obelisk of Independence. Almaty boasts several fine museums including the Museum of Kazakh National Instruments, the Central State Museum and the State Art Museum which has amongst its exhibits traditional Kazakh rugs, jewellery and clothing. The Arasan Baths, in the western area of Panfilov Park, have Eastern, Finnish and Russian saunas.
The Mountains
The 4000m-high (1310ft) Zaili Alatau Mountains near Almaty offer numerous opportunities all year round for sports and recreation. The Medeu ice rink is situated 15km outside the city in a stunning gorge (see Sports and Activities section). There are large areas of unspoilt nature among the mountains which attract many walkers and climbers to the region in summer and skiers in the winter.
The Tien Shan Mountains in the southeast of Kazakhstan stretch for more than 1500km (932 miles). The highest peaks are Pobeda Peak (7439m/24,406ft) and Khan-Tengri Peak (7010m/23,000ft), a snow-white, marble-like pyramid. The huge Inylchek Glacier, reaching almost 60km (37 miles) in length, splits the summits and at its centre lies the beautiful Mertzbakher Lake. The Kolsai Lakes are three blue mountain lakes, known as the 'pearls of the northern Tien-Shan', that lie within the ridges of the Kungei Alatau range at heights of up to 2700m above sea level. The Khan-Tengri International Mountaineering Camp provides experienced mountain guides to take visitors on organised climbing and trekking programmes. Other facilities include horseriding, a souvenir shop and bar.
Elsewhere
The city of Chimkent is an industrial city, producing the largest amount of lead in the CIS. 160km (100 miles) away (travel time - 2 hours 30 minutes) is the 14th-century Kodja Ahmed Yasavi Mausoleum in Turkestan; built under Tamerlane, this mausoleum has the largest dome in Central Asia. Dzhambul, too, is an industrial city in the region with some reproductions of ancient remains from when it was known as Taraz - these are housed in the Karakhan and the Daudbek Shahmansur Mausoleums. The nearby village of Golovachovka, 18km (11 miles) to the west, has authentic remains from Taraz, including the 11th-century Babadzi-Khatun Mausoleum and the 12th-century Mausoleum Aisha Bibi. Another ancient historical centre is Taldikorgan. Much of this region was crossed by the Great Silk Road.
The Rest of the Country
Central Kazakhstan
Central Kazakhstan has one of the largest lakes in the world. The unique Lake Balkhash is one-half saline, one-half fresh water. Some archaeological and ethnographic sites have been preserved in central Kazakhstan. There are Bronze Age and Early Iron Age sites and New Stone Age and Bronze Age settlements in the Karkarala Oasis. The Bayan-Aul National Park has rock drawings, stone sculptures, clean, sparkling lakes and pines clinging to the rocks. The Baikonur Cosmodrome, located 5km (3 miles) from the garrison city of Leninsk and 230km (143 miles) from Kzil-Orda, is the Central Asian answer to Cape Canavarel - tours are available during which visitors can witness space launches. It was from here, on 12 April 1961, that Yuri Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut, took off and it is still a point of departure for space launches.
The West
West Kazakhstan marks the southern convergence of Europe and Asia in the basin of the Caspian Sea. The region's Karagie Depression, 132m (433ft) below sea level, is the lowest point in the world after the Dead Sea in Sinai. There are many architectural heritage sites in this region, including the subterranean cross-shaped Shakpak-Ata Mosque (12th-14th century) which is hewn out of rock.
The North
Astana was made Kazakhstan's new capital in 1997, as its location was thought to be more accessible to Russia and less earthquake-prone than Almaty (the former capital), where foreign embassies and consulates are still based. Although a small and friendly town and an important centre for the production of grain, it is has little else to recommend it. The nature reserve of Kurgaldjino in the north of Kazakhstan houses the most northerly settlement of pink flamingoes in the world, while another nature reserve, Naurzum, offers a rich landscape of geographical contrasts - salt lakes ringed by forests, the remains of ancient pines strewn amongst sand dunes, pine forests growing out of salt-marsh beds, vast meadows, and rare animals such as hisser swans and grave eagles.
The East
East Kazakhstan offers a colourful landscape of snow-capped mountain peaks, plunging forested canyons and picturesque cedar forests. Lake Marakol rivals Baikal in beauty. It is 35km (22 miles) long and 19km (12 miles) wide and lies 1449m (4754ft) above sea level. The city of Semipalatinsk, 30km (19 miles) from Siberia, was a Russian place of exile; Dostoyevsky was exiled here from 1857-1859 and his house is preserved as a museum - exhibits include notes for Crime and Punishment and The Idiot. Other museums in the city include the Abai Kununbaev Museum, commemorating the Kazakh poet, and the History Museum. Nuclear tests were carried out southwest of Semipalatinsk until 1990, although today background radiation is easily within reach of internationally accepted levels. The town of Ust-Kamenogorsk is a mining and smelting town and is the gateway to the Altai Mountains. Occupying the central point of the continent, these gentle mountains are covered with meadows and woods and stretch for a thousand kilometres into Mongolia. Rakhmanovski in the Altai Mountains offers a turbaza (see Accommodation section) and is renowned for its cross-country skiing.
Nature Reserves
Aksu-Jabagli
A UNESCO biosphere reserve in southern Kazakhstan, situated 1000-4000m (3280-3120ft) above sea level, and home to 238 species of birds, 42 species of animals and 1300 species of plants.
Almaty
Located in the southern Tian Shan Mountains and home to snow leopards, jeirans, gazelles, arkhars and the unique Tjan-Shan fir tree.
Barsa Kelmes
Translated as 'the land of no return', this island, off the northwestern Aral Sea coast, is the home of the rarest hoofed animal in the world - the kulan.
The West-Altai
Situated in the Altai Mountains and home to 16 types of forest, 30 species of mammals and 120 species of birds.
Kurgaldjino
Located in central Kazakhstan, this A-class nature reserve is of international importance, and its feather-grass steppe is home to 300 types of plant and the most northerly settlement of flamingoes in the world.
Marakol
Home to 232 species of bird, 50 species of animal and 1000 types of plant, the reserve is set in the southern foothills of the Altai Mountains.
Naurzum
Located in northern Kazakhstan and home to such rare animals as white herons, jack-bustards, hisser swans and grave eagles.
Ustiurt
Situated in west Kazakhstan in the Karagie Depression, 132m (433ft) below sea level, this chalk-cliffed reserve is the largest in the country.
Bayan-Aul National Nature Park
Known as 'the museum of nature', the reserve is located in central Kazakhstan. | | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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