Kazakhstan is known for an incredible variety of natural landscapes, which are spread over a vast area. Here are some picturesque landscapes in the north and east of the country.

The following beautiful photos were taken during trips to Karaganda and East Kazakhstan regions of Kazakhstan at different times of the year.

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The following nice time-lapse video about East Kazakhstan region and its capital city Ust-Kamenogorsk was made by Andrey Okhotenko. This region is located in the eastern part of Kazakhstan and borders on Russia and China.

More than 40% of all water resources of the country is concentrated here. It is a unique region from natural point of view because it has steppe, desert and mountain-taiga landscapes on its territory.

Tags: East Kazakhstan oblast · time-lapse · Ust-Kamenogorsk city

This great video clip showing one day in the life of former Kazakhstan capital city Almaty was shot in the summer and fall of 2012.

Almaty is a sunny, cozy, green city with wide streets, beautiful buildings, numerous parks, gardens and fountains. This city at the foot of the emerald Tien Shan mountains is called “garden city.”

Gardens, groves, parks, boulevards, flower gardens occupy more than eight thousand acres of the urban area.

Tags: Almaty city · time-lapse

Shymkent, the regional center of South Kazakhstan oblast, is the third largest city in Kazakhstan. It is also one of the largest industrial and commercial centers of the country.

The city attracts the attention of travelers and scholars from ancient times. Since Shymkent is the center of the region, it is the start of the majority of travel routes to various parts of the region.

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Tags: Shymkent city · time-lapse

A great time-lapse video about the city of Almaty and the surrounding area shot by Pavel Tenyakov in 2012. Totally, over 55,000 photos have been taken and the best ones are in this video. I recommend to watch this video in full screen in HD quality. Enjoy!

Tags: Almaty city · time-lapse

Ski resort “Shimbulak” (“Chimbulak”) is situated in a picturesque Trans-Ili Alatau valley at a height 2260 meters above sea level, 25 km from the center of Almaty. The average summer temperature is plus 20 C, in winter – minus 7 C. The average snow depth is 150 cm, the number of sunny days per year is about 90%.

The resort is known for a variety of slopes, including slopes for beginners, long slopes for skiers, slopes for downhill skiing, valleys with untouched snow and half-pipe for snowboarders, extreme turns for pros, a special track for mogul.

The main characteristics of the resort: plateau length – 3800 meters, width – from 100 to 600 meters, vertical drop – 943 meters, ski area – 2260-3163 meters, total area – 99 acres.

Tags: Almaty oblast · ski resort

That’s how people in Almaty celebrated the New Year 2013. Video was shot from Kok-Tobe Park.

Tags: Almaty city · fireworks · Happy New Year

Ust-Kamenogorsk (Oskemen) is a city located in East Kazakhstan region of the country. The city lies in the foothills of Rudny Altay mountains at the junction of Ulba and Irtysh rivers.

The city was founded as a Russian fort in 1720. Later Ust-Kamenogorsk became a center of trade with Mongolia and China and the gateway to the mineral wealth of the Rudny Altay mountains. Today it is Kazakhstan major center of nonferrous metallurgy with important associated research institutes and laboratories.

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Fountains and extensive network of channels play an important role in Almaty. Together they create a single set of ponds and streams in the city. The main task is watering green spaces and creating a favorable climate, especially in the hot and dry season.

The first fountain appeared in Almaty in 1948. Currently, the city has more than 125 fountains. Since 2005, May 25 is celebrated as the Day of the Fountains – this day at 9 pm all the fountains of Almaty start working. Fountains work from May 25 to October 25, from 10 am to 2 am on a single schedule.

Tags: Almaty city · fountains · time-lapse

Nice video about the main reasons to invest in Kazakhstan.

According to the officials they are: ample natural resources, favorable location, political stability, favorable business climate, investor protection, availability of transnational corporations, foreign direct investments, economic growth, customs union markets, industrial and innovative development.

I am not sure, if watching the video is enough to make the decision, but at least it gives some info to think about.

Tags: investment