Karaganda Region
Kazakhstan Regions

There are more than two hundred large and small rivers in the region. The largest ones are the Sarysu and the Nura. Karaganda region is a natural phenomenon. Here steppes and mountains deserts and lakes, shrubs are in the vicinity of pinewoods and birch groves. Karaganda region is the country of amazing animals - wild rams, djeyrans, golden eagles, balaban falcons.

Two migratory ways of steppe antelopes, saigas, pass through Karaganda region. Every spring feathered come flying from India, Africa, Mediterranean land, Front Asia on to the lakes. Kazakh people composed legends about the most diffused predators - wolf and fox korsac. Wolf has been a totem animal from the ancient time. In the lakes and rivers of Karaganda region there are burbot, pike, perch, crucian, sazan, bream and many other species of fishes Spring, lake, shore, wave... These words have gentle and melodious sound. And here, in this region they acquire special significance because the boundless steppe, the shores and soft waves of lake Balkhash and clear alpine springs are the true wonders of nature.

The representatives of more than one hundred nationalities live in Karaganda region. The history of this national variety is unique and tragically at the same. In the 30-40 Karaganda region was the exile place of the people who Soviet power didnt trust to not only separate people and families but also the whole peoples were exiled - germans from Povoljye. Koreans from the Far Fast. Chechens from the Caucasus, Ukrainians from the western part of the Ukraine. After the war in Karaganda region there was an internment camp. In Spassk on the place were the internment camp had been settled before was opened a memorial, where all states, representatives of peoples erect monuments lo their citizens, which became the sacrifices of repressions.

Karaganda region is a geographical center of Kazakhstan. Advantageous disposition between the Ural and Altai Western Siberia and Middle Asia, mineral wealth assisted the fact that Karaganda region have been bound up with other region from of old. The northern section of the Great Silk Way passed here. The section through Ulytau from Middle Asia have been called «sarysu» or «copper» way. Tens of remained .caravansarais fortified settlements, feudal castles, guard towers infirm it city culture, craft, trade developed because of caravan way. Archaeological excavations in Karkaralinsk, ivatiqss Karkaralinsk, Kent, Ulytau on the Baskamyr, Joshy-Orda, Ayakkamyr, Orda- Bazaar sites of ancient settlement evidence about it.

Geographical disposition favoured the fact that Karaganda region have become the most important main center. You can get to any region of Kazakhstan from Karaganda. The railway communication binds Karaganda region with the cities of Russia, the Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan. The international airport «Sary- arka» carries out through trips to Russia. Germany, Turkey, the United Arabian Emirates. Contemporary dynamic develop ment of the region demanded new road building of international and republican significance the motorway, connecting the «south» capital Almaty with Astana - the capital of Kazakhstan, runs through Karaganda region International coach routes to China, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russian cities - Ekaterinburg, Omsk, Moscow. Novosibirsk, Sochi, and many others are opened.

The city of Karaganda is the administrative center of Kara ganda Region, which is mostly famous for its industrial areas (mining and smelting industrial complex, fish and meat indus tries.) But it also features one of the most scenic places in Cen tral Kazakhstan - the internal-drainage lake Balkhash (up to 26 m deep, its area is about 22,000 sq. km) set among the boundless steppes, in the Alakol Hollow. The Ili, Karatal and other rivers flow into the lake. It is interesting that in the western part of the lake the water is fresh, whereas in the eastern part it is saltish.

Karaganda- the main city of Karaganda region has got its name from karagana, the short shrub, blooming with yellow flowers in the spring. Karaganda means «karagany» in Kazakh. The city was formed in 1934. About 600 thousand people live in Karaganda and it takes one of the leading places in Kazakhstan by its economical, scientific, cultural potential. Karaganda is called the space harbour. Cosmonauts start to the space from its land from Baykonur.

«Chayka», «Cosmonaut», de-luxe hotel «Sozvezdye» and many other hotels can offer high service. The international billiards center. where republican and iiitemalional billiards competitions are conducted is also situated in ihc dc-luxe hotel «Sozvczdye».

Modern Karaganda is the city where you can relax. The city offers rest for any taste and habits. You can go to one of the numerous sports clubs, fitness-centers, saunas, one of the tennis courts, pools. It is possible to have a good time in one of the numerous restaurants and cafes, where the dishes from eastern and European countries are offered. It is possible to relax in one of their billiards halls: Karaganda hap already been called as a billiards center of Middle Asia and Kazakhstan. You can roll balls in the bowling center «Arman», dunce at discos. You can go to Aqua park, where sun and pool with hills, billiard in room arc always at your service.

In summer it is possible to swim and sunbathe in aqua land. Ethnographical Park named after 10 years of Republican Independence, central park of holiday and culture, park-alley of soldiers internationalists memory are always opened for rest. Concert hall «Shalkyma» where the best musicians of the World, Republic and region perform waits the fans of classical music. In the exhibition hall, museum .of decorative art, museum of local lore, history and economy you will be acquainted with the talented artists from -Kazakhstan, the Ukraine, Russia, folk applied art, r egional history. Every September a new theatrical season begins in the theatre named after Stanyslavsky K. S., Kazakh regional theatre named after Seifullin S., the only theatre of musical comedy in Kazakhstan. You can spend a day with your children in the doll theatre «Buratino» in the circle, in the Karaganda ZOO the oldest one in Kazakhstan.

Over 1500 historical, cultural and archaelogical monuments have been found on the territory of Djezkazgan region. Especially many monu-ments are on the banks of the Sarysu, Sarykengir, Kara- Kengir, Djezdy rivers and in the environs of Ulytau. Djezkazgan historical and archaelodical museum, the museum of mining and melting affair history, the home- museum of Satpayev K. aca demician, who opened the mineral wealth of Djezkazgan, the museum with winter park in Djezdy, Ulytau natural- historical museum- preserve are parts of united historical and cultural complex.

Here you can come across such vegetation as turan ga, willow, reed and rush. White swan is a true decoration and the symbol of lake Balkhash. At present it can only be found in inaccessible parts of the lake. But pelicans are the true masters of this area. Also, lake Balkhash is home to cormorant, small bittern, teal, pheasant, golden-eye, egret and muskrat. And wild boar is the master of reed jungles.

For venturesome tourists Balkhash offers hunting with hunt ing birds for heath-cock, duck, partridge, pigeon, hare, fox and even wolf. Also interesting is ichthyo-fauna of the lake. You can enjoy fishing for marinka, pike perch, bream, catfish and others.

However, if you want to have a good rest near water, you need not go as far as hundreds kilometers from Karaganda. In the territory of the Zhartas Reservoir (61 km from Karaganda) there is a comfortable beach area with a well-equipped boat sta tion and a lovely place called Zhartas.

To the east of Karaganda there is the city of Karkaralinsk. It is by right called the pearl of Saryarka. The primitive beauty of Karkaralinsk Mountains and woods, gorgeous vegetation of its valleys and lakes as clear as a tear will remain in the memory of everybody who has visited this land at least once. Names of cliffs, mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers perfectly indicate the unusu al beauty of this area: Falcon Peak, Mt. Deer, Red Bear Hill, Red Cliff, Mirror Fold Lake, Shaitan-kol (Devil's Lake) and others.

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