Almaty Region
Kazakhstan Regions

A vast Bakanas plain extends across the delta part of the Ili River with ancient dry riverbeds. The Northern and Central Tien-Shan Mountain stand, as if an insurmountable wall in the south-east, along the crests of which the border of Kazakhstan and China lies. The climate is extreme continental in the plains, precipitation is up to 300 mm per year. The climate is milder Ili foothills, thaws are regular, and precipitation reaches 600 mm. Vertical zones is clearly evident in the mountains.

There are deposits of gold, silver, ferrous and rare metals, phosphoric ore, potters' and refractory clay, construction materials, marble, granite, coal and more.

The Almaty Region has distinct specializations of economy: industry specializes mainly in engineering construction (machine-tool construction, electronics, food processing, trade and catering equipment) and also in tobacco, wine-making, fruit and vegetable, sugar, confectionery, textile and clothing; in extraction of the poly-metallic ore and production of accumulators.

The diversified regional agriculture is based on the irrigation farming and use of rich natural pasture resources.

"Zhetysu" is the Kazakh pearl, and implies seven rivers, running across that land and flowing into Lake Balkhash. It is a wonderful and unique land. Surprising secrets are kept by the land, known by the poetic name - Zhetysu, where paths and historical fates of many tribes and peoples, crossed in the distant [last. There is no much range of Saka and Turkic burial mounds and rock paintings in any oilier region of the Republic.

The ancient culture of the Kazakh people has been reflected in invaluable monuments from the past, i.e. Stone sculptures and burial mounds; ancient city ruins also remind us today about the famous history of many generations of people in the land. Semirechye was an important center of farming and trade even in the Middle Ages.

Fart of the Great Silk Road, or the so called "Scythian steppe road", crossed the Region; it is a unique complex of history, archaeology, monumental arts, architecture and urban monuments, reflecting deep processes of interaction between the nomadic and settled farming cultures of Central Asia.

It was the most apparent road, which passed from China to the West through Semirechye and the South Kazakhstan in the 6th - 7th centuries. Roads went diverged from the main route to the North and the East, they led to the regions of the Central and Eastern Kazakhstan to the Desh-and-Kypchak steppe, later known as Sary-Arka, to the Irtysh River banks, Altai and Mongolia. The Silk Road is not a simple trade route. It is a friendly bridge between the East and the West, a peaceful hand, stretched between two groups of humanity. It can be said, that the Silk Road gave a powerful impulse to the urban development at that time.

The contemporary route along "the Silk Road" is a harmonic co-existence of ancient and modern traditions and untouched nature; striking beauty, which conjures a unique picture for everyone, who visits it. Throughout history many caravans crossed these lands. And today, many years later, there is an opportunity to open the ancient road for you, to get acquainted with its rich history and enjoy its natural beauty.

Much attention is paid to the Silk Road renewal and using its potential to develop tourism in the Republic; the Silk Road-Kazakhstan, National Company carries out this function. Private tour companies are also engaged in the tourism development of the Great Silk Road.

The Silk Road-Kazakhstan, the First International Festival was conducted in October 2001 in Almaty. The Almaty Region participated in activities, which took place within (he framework of the festival: the KPT-2001- "Tourism and Travels", the first Kazakh International Exhibition and "Eco-Tourism as an instrument of sustainable development in the XXI century for the transitional economies of the CIS-countries, China and Mongolia", within the framework of preparation towards the International year of Eco-tourism. The yurt town was developed at the Republic square in Almaty, where the Almaty Region had exhibitions. Almost all participants in the seminar visited the yurt town, including guests from around the world; it proves the increased interest in our region and its historical, cultural and natural tourist possibilities.

The largest regional river is the Hi River which flows almost through the center of the Almaty Region, dividing it in two parts; in the middle of which the large artificial Kapshagai reservoir has been built, which is defined by the hydroelectric station dam. Its length is 815 km within Kazakhstan, and its total length is 1439 km.

Taldykorgan has become the administrative center of the Almaty Region, according to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan's Decree of April 1-1,2001 No.585. The town is located at the South-east of the Republic below the Northern Zhungar Alalau slopes, 570-630 m above the sea level on the Karatal River bank, Taldykorgan's history is one of the outstanding stories ol'lhe Zhelysu region, (lavrilovka, a small settlement was founded on the Tal-Korgan winter pastures in 1868. The beneficial location promoted its quick economic development. There were 586 farms, or 4.6 thousand people in Gavrilovka village before World War I. Currently, the town population has reached 120 000 people, representing 70 nations and ethnicities. Taldykorgan is one of the greenest cities in Kazakhstan; it is dotted with verdant parks and gardens.

Joint project of OrexCA.com and KTA & KAGIR. Information is taken from CD "All about tourism in Kazakhstan"