Best Kazakhstan

Saryarka Steppe is a vast region of temperate grasslands and wetlands located in the Kazakh Uplands of central and northern Kazakhstan. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, comprising two separate protected areas: the Naurzum State Nature Reserve and the Korgalzhyn State Nature...

The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is an unfinished Timurid structure located in the city of Turkistan, southern Kazakhstan. Commissioned by Timur in 1389, the shrine was built over the burial site of the 12th-century Sufi mystic and poet Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a major figure in the development of Suf...

The Tamgaly Petroglyphs are an ancient cultural landscape and rock art site located in the Anrakai mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan. The sanctuary features a remarkable concentration of over 5,000 distinct petroglyphs, the majority of which were carved during the Bronze Age. The rock carvings de...

The Ahmed Yasawi Shrine is an unfinished mausoleum located in the city of Turkestan, Kazakhstan. It was commissioned in the late 14th century by the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur to honor the tomb of the Turkic Sufi mystic and poet Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the s...

The Kazakh Steppe is a vast temperate grassland dominating much of northern and central Kazakhstan. It represents one of Earth’s largest dry steppes, shaped by a continental climate and historically utilized for grazing by nomadic peoples, primarily the Kazakh communities. Its immense size and uniqu...

The Golden Steppe, or Altyn Dala, is an expansive temperate grassland located in central Kazakhstan. It is the focus of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, a major partnership launched in 2006 to restore the critically endangered saiga antelope population after a severe decline in the late 20th...

Prisoner of the Mountains depicts a conflict set during the First Chechen War. The narrative centers around interactions between Russian soldiers and Chechen individuals, highlighting cultural differences and military strategies. It is based on Tolstoy’s short story and examines the experiences of t...

Khan Tengri is a 7,010-meter mountain located in the central Tian Shan range, situated near the tripoint of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. It is renowned for its striking, symmetrical marble pyramid shape, which makes it a highly recognizable and sought-after objective for mountaineers. The peak...

Efremovka is a reduced CV3 carbonaceous chondrite found in Kazakhstan in 1962. It contains well-preserved chondrules and calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions, among the earliest solids known to have formed in the Solar System, as well as presolar grains inherited from material predating it. These compon...

The Sary Arka Velodrome is a national-level indoor velodrome situated in Astana, Kazakhstan. Constructed with a wooden track, it provides a dedicated space for cycling training and competition. Primarily utilized by Kazakh cyclists and those participating in continental events, the facility hosts ra...

The Little One is a 2018 drama directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy and set in Kazakhstan. It received consideration for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, where Samal Yeslyamova earned Best Actress recognition. The film was submitted as the Kazakhstani entry to the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film catego...

Lake Balkhash is a large, endorheic freshwater and saline lake located in southeastern Kazakhstan. Covering an area of approximately 16,400 square kilometers, it is one of the largest lakes in Asia. The lake is uniquely divided by a strait into two distinct parts: a freshwater western half fed prima...

Corn Island is a 2014 Kazakh drama film directed by Giorgi Ovashvili. The story unfolds on an island along the Enguri River where a grandfather and granddaughter labor to harvest corn. It portrays a summer’s events marked by quiet conflict and explores generational differences through the experience...

The Mausoleum of Aisha Bibi is a historic Islamic tomb located near the city of Taraz in southern Kazakhstan. Dating back to the 11th or 12th century during the Karakhanid era, the structure is distinguished by its exterior decoration of carved terracotta tiles featuring geometric and floral pattern...

The Ushtogaysky Square geoglyph is a large geometric earthwork located in Kazakhstan’s steppe region. Constructed using thousands of earthen mounds, it measures approximately 90 meters across. Its precise purpose remains unknown but scholars believe it represents an ancient cultural or religious pra...

Mongol is a 2007 film directed by Sergei Bodrov that chronicles the formative years of Temüjin, who would become Genghis Khan. The story details his journey through challenges involving abduction, familial relationships, and the consequences of conflict. Tadanobu Asano, Sun Honglei, and Chuluuny Khu...

The Irtysh is a major river of Central and northern Asia, extending approximately 4,248 kilometres when measured from its headwaters. It rises in the Altai region of China, crosses Kazakhstan, and continues into Russia, where it joins the Ob River in western Siberia. The river supports cities includ...

The Kazakh Steppe, also known as Saryarka, is a vast, semi-arid grassland ecoregion stretching across northern and central Kazakhstan. It represents the largest remaining dry steppe area on Earth and features massive wetlands that serve as critical habitats for migratory birds. In 2008, a section of...

The Babaji Khatun Mausoleum is an Islamic tomb located near the city of Taraz in southern Kazakhstan. Dating to the 11th or 12th century during the Karakhanid era, it is constructed primarily of fired brick. The structure is architecturally distinguished by its well-preserved, sixteen-ribbed conical...

The Ushtogai Square is a massive geoglyph located in the Kostanay Region of northern Kazakhstan. Comprising dozens of earthen mounds, the formation creates a precise geometric square with sides spanning hundreds of meters. Discovered through satellite imagery as part of a larger complex of Steppe Ge...

The Betpak-Dala Steppe is a vast semi-desert and clay plain located in the central region of Kazakhstan. Characterized by an arid, continental climate with extreme temperature fluctuations, the landscape is covered primarily by drought-resistant grasses and scrub vegetation. The area serves as a vit...

Altai steppe and semi-desert is WWF ecoregion PA0802 in Kazakhstan and China, a grazing landscape with shallow lakes used by migratory birds.

Lake Tengiz is a shallow endorheic saline lake in the Akmola Region of central Kazakhstan, covering approximately 1,590 sq km with a maximum depth of about 8 m. The lake is designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and forms the core of the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, part of the Sar...

The Turgay Steppe is a vast, semi-arid grassland region situated in the northwestern interior of Kazakhstan. It occupies a broad geographic plain characterized by flat terrain, short grasses, and a harsh continental climate. The landscape is interrupted by the Turgay Depression, a significant elonga...

The Bukeev Steppe is a semi-arid grassland region in western Kazakhstan, situated between the Volga and Ural rivers in the Caspian Depression north of the Caspian Sea. In 1801, the Russian Empire authorized the establishment of the Bukey Horde on this territory, creating an inland Kazakh administrat...

The Ili River is a transboundary river approximately 1,439 kilometers long, rising in the Tian Shan mountains of China's Xinjiang region and flowing westward into Kazakhstan. It is the primary water source for Lake Balkhash, the largest lake in Central Asia, and supports extensive agriculture and we...

The Zaysan Steppe is a semi-arid grassland in eastern Kazakhstan, notable for bordering Lake Zaysan, a massive freshwater lake historically serving as a vital resource for regional fisheries.

The Ustyurt Plateau is a vast, arid limestone plateau spanning the borders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is situated between the Caspian Sea to the west and the Aral Sea to the east. The plateau is known for its dramatic, steep escarpments, which rise up to 150 meters above the surrounding plains...

The Aral-Caspian Steppe is a vast semi-desert region in Central Asia, notable for lying between the Aral and Caspian Seas and hosting the Ustyurt Plateau.