Despite the existing stereotype of Kazakhstan as a country of steppes, this land is rich in a variety of landscapes.

Beautiful nature of Kazakhstan looks especially picturesquely in autumn, when you can see a real riot of colors. Photos by Gregory Bedenko

stunning scenery

Tags: landscapes

The Assy observatory is an astronomical observatory standing on a mountain plateau Assy-Turgen located at an altitude of 2750 meters above sea level, 75 km east of Almaty.

This is the only observatory in Kazakhstan with the ideal astro-climate. Main area of research: observation of details of the apparent surface of the giant planets of the solar system. The observatory on Google Maps. Photo by Eduard Kim

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

What a beautiful view! It is Tuzkol Lake, located in the east of Almaty region (1950 meters above sea level), the saltiest mountain lake in Kazakhstan.

The salinity of the lake varies by season. It can reach almost the same salinity as in the Dead Sea in Israel or the Great Salt Lake in the United States. Tuzkol Lake on Google Maps. Photo by Sergey Terekhov

Tags: Almaty oblast

A well-known Kazakhstan photographer and an aviation lover Gregory Bedenko continues to delight us with beautiful pictures of the mountains, Balkhash Lake area and the Ili River delta (Almaty region) taken from unusual angles. Photos from voxpopuli.kz

magnificent nature

Tags: Almaty oblast

Tekes is a relatively small village (population – about 4,000 people) located in Raiymbek district of Almaty region of Kazakhstan.

The village is standing at an altitude of 1766 meters above sea level, close to the border with China. What a stunningly beautiful place! Photos by Sergey Terekhov

beautiful nature views

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

Kazakhstan is known as the land of steppes and this beautiful picture taken in East Kazakhstan region of the country can be a nice illustration of this fact. Photo by Arina Ratushnova-Osintseva

Tags: East Kazakhstan oblast · landscapes

The highest point of Kazakhstan is Khan Tengri – the peak of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is located right on the border between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China.

The height of the peak is 7010 meters (with the glacier). Its name in Turkic means “The Lord of the Sky.” Due to its pyramid shape it is one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. Khan Tengri on Google Maps. Photo by Vitaliy Rage

very majestic views

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

Bektau-Ata is an unusual natural monument located about 70 kilometers north of the town of Balkhash in Karaganda region. This is a meeting place of two different landscapes – granite mountain is surrounded by a flat steppe.

The mountain rises above the steppe more than a thousand meters. Pink granite rocks of Bektau-Ata consist of granite lava solidified on the surface and in the cracks of the earth.

very unique and interesting area

Tags: Karaganda oblast · landscapes

Zaysan is a relatively large lake (length – 105 km, width – 22-48 km) located in eastern Kazakhstan (East Kazakhstan oblast), about 60 km from the border with China.

Shekelmes Bay has almost perfect semicircular shape. There is a belief that the bizarre metamorphosis of sand that you can see in this place is a result of the fall of a meteorite on the shore of the lake. Lake Zaysan on Google Maps. Photos by Ilia Afanasieff

magnificent place

Tags: East Kazakhstan oblast · landscapes

The upper delta of the Ili River in Almaty region is a very interesing area. It is an amazing place where the dunes can be seen side by side with the water meadows. Photos by Gregory Bedenko

beautiful pictures of the Ili River

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes