The Republic
of Kazakhstan, situated at the heart
of Eurasia, appeared on the geopolitical map in
1991. The name Kazakh, of Turkic origin, is thought to mean “free man” – which
is appropriate in a land historically populated by freedom-loving nomads.
For thousands of years, these
nomads tended vast cattle herds, pasture lands and the fertile soils of the
region’s foothills and river valleys. Both the historic Silk
Road and Sable Route,
along which expensive furs were transported, passed through the region. This
made Kazakhstan an important
cultural, trade and economic bridge between Asia and Europe.
The land of many nationalities
Kazakhstan
is home to many different nationalities and faiths, all united by a common history.
This variety of tradition, heritage and language is treasured by the people of
the Republic of Kazakhstan, who believe there is much
truth in the Japanese saying: “You can survive without your relatives; you cannot
survive without your neighbours.”
The people of Kazakhstan
are proud of their diversity. Century after century, generation after
generation, Kazakhstan
has always sought to encourage friendship and tolerance among its people.
Currently around 130 nationalities
populate Kazakhstan.
Around 54% are Kazakhs, 30% are Russians and the remaining 16% constitutes
Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Germans and Tartars. The predominant religions are Islam
and Christianity.
The state language of Kazakhstan
is Kazakh. However, the younger generations are becoming increasingly
trilingual. Both Kazakh and Russian are used by the authorities and governing
institutions of Kazakhstan.
Kazakh is considered the language of the ancestors and Russian is widely spoken,
while English is enjoying a growing popularity as the language most commonly
used to communicate with foreign visitors.
The city of the future
The capital of Kazakhstan
is Astana, a city founded as a fortress in 1830. Having only become the
country’s capital in 1997, Astana is a young but fast-growing modern city full
of bright prospects, rich opportunities and exciting ideas.
In 1999, in the Bolivian
capital of La Paz,
Astana received an honourable mention in UNESCO’s “Cities for Peace” awards.
Astana continues to live up to this and is developing itself as “a model city
of social wellbeing.”
Kazakhstan’s
President, Nursultan Nazarbaev, is keen to ensure that Astana is a city in
which innovative projects are realised. There are already many sites of
interest in the Kazakhstan
capital, including:
• The Oceanarium, sometimes referred to as “a
seawater drop in the steppe.”
• The world’s youngest opera theatre. Many international celebrities, including
Dmitry Khvorostovsky, have already performed on its stage.
• The Baiterek monument, constructed from glass and concrete, towers above
Astana offering a panoramic view of the entire city.
Astana is a city of the future,
as a result not only of its unique architectural style, but also of its open
and hospitable nature. Astana has played host to the UN Secretary General and
Pope John Paul II. The Kazakhstan
capital is a place open to businessmen and tourists, artists and sportsmen.
The star called Almaty
Certain world cities stand
out due to their iconic and memorable landmarks. The mere mention of San Francisco, for example, usually conjures an image of
the Golden Gate Bridge. Paris
similarly brings to mind the Eiffel
Tower. For Kazakhstan, the city of Almaty offers an enduring image with its
picturesque valley Medeo.
Almaty is a city that
successfully brings together people of different cultures. Eastern and European
traditions are closely interwoven here and the city’s inhabitants are
open-minded and friendly. The city has a well-developed infrastructure, a solid
standard of living, a strong economy and recreational facilities of
international standard.
Once seen, never forgotten
Despite being the ninth
largest country in the world, Kazakhstan
remains, for many people, an unknown and enigmatic place. Even the most
well-travelled visitor will find many fascinations in Kazakhstan: mountain peaks covered
with snow, vast highlands, deep rivers, parched deserts, endless fields covered
with flowers and virgin forest reserves.
Kazakhstan’s
natural beauty is outstanding. The Tyan-Shan, Tarbagatay and Altay mountains,
located in the south, south-east and the west part of the country, gleam with
snow and glaciered peaks. The Caspian Sea - sometimes referred to as the
world’s largest lake - lies to the west and the Sary Arka steppe is home to the
fascinating Balkhash
Lake, which is part fresh
water and part salt water. Northern Kazakhstan
offers similar areas of beauty and is home to hundreds of picturesque glacier
lakes surrounded by the pine woods of Kokshetau.
It would, of course, take
pages to detail all of Kazakhstan’s
attractions. The rock paintings and sculptures in the Bayan Aul national park
are particularly unforgettable while the Kurgaldzhino natural reserve offers
more than 300 types of plants and the world’s most northern colony of
flamingos.
Much emphasis is placed on
the preservation of the country’s many natural reserves, national parks and
their unique landscapes, fauna and flora. Kazakhstan is an excellent destination
for travellers who love nature. It is unspoilt, varied and beautiful.
Those looking for rest and
relaxation, as well as impressive natural attractions, will enjoy the
Kokshetau natural park’s famous resorts and spas, therapeutic mudbaths and
mineral water springs.
Welcome to Kazakhstan
It is not necessary to search
the entire world for fascinating tradition, beautiful, pristine nature or a
delicate mixture of old and modern: simply visit Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, guests are made welcome as they
experience the very heart of Eurasia.