Taldykorgan is a city located in the Almaty region having the status of the regional center. It is the center of Semirechye (“seven rivers”) area. The distance from Taldykorgan to Almaty is 271 km.

The city stands on the Karatal River, at the foothills of the Jungar Alatau, at an altitude of 602 meters above sea level. “Taldykorgan” means “a hill surrounded by willows.” The city’s population is about 138,000 people. Photos by: Rinna Lee for voxpopuli.kz

explore Taldykorgan

Tags: Taldykorgan city

Alakol in Kazakh means “multi-colored lake.” It is situated on the border of the east and southeast of Kazakhstan. In the south-western part its water is clean and very clear, in the north-east – the water is muddy.

The lake water is strongly mineralized and is considered therapeutic. The length of the lake is 104 kilometers, the maximum width – 52 kilometers, the depth – 54 meters. Lake Alakol on Google Maps. Photos by: Grigoriy Bedenko.

beautiful lakes

Tags: Almaty oblast · East Kazakhstan oblast

Tuzkol is the saltiest mountain lake in Kazakhstan, located in the south-east of the Almaty region, in Raiymbeksky district, about 310 km from Almaty.

The lake is quite large – the length is 5 km and the width in some places reaches 1 km. The water is very salty, but the level of salinity changes with the seasons. The maximum value is up to 300 g per liter. For comparison: in the Dead Sea, the concentration of salt is about 340-350 g per liter.

amazing scenery

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes

Trans-Ili Alatau or Ile Alatau is a mountain system located in the northwest of the Tien Shan (on the border of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan). It is the most northern mountain range of the Tien Shan.

These mountains are rich with numerous glaciers and lakes that increase the risk of mudflows creating a hazard to the settlements located at the foot of the mountains, including the city of Almaty. That’s why regular monitoring of Trans-Ili Alatau is conducted from the air. Photos by: Grigoriy Bedenko.

fly over Trans-Ili Alatau

Tags: Almaty oblast

Semirechye (Seven Rivers), or Zhetysu is a vast area located in the south-east of Kazakhstan (Almaty region).

It is situated between Lake Balkhash in the north, Sasykol and Alakol in the northeast, the mountain range of Jungar Alatau in the south-east, and the ridges of the Northern Tien Shan in the south. Photos by: Grigoriy Bedenko.

the land of lakes

Tags: Almaty oblast

The Kolsai lake cascade is a system of three lakes located in the northern Tien Shan, in the Almaty region.

Let’s walk through the forest trail leading to the second Kolsai lake. Kolsai lakes on Google Maps. Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

scenic forest trail and the lake

Tags: Almaty oblast

Aktolagay is a mountain ridge composed of limestone. The length of the ridge is 90 km, the width – 5-10 km. It is located on the territory of Bayganinsky district of the Aktobe region.

The unique landscape of Aktolagay, formed in the Jurassic period, is fascinating. Aktolagay mountain range on Google Maps. Photos by: Ilia Afanasieff.

the land of white cliffs

Tags: Aktobe oblast

Boszhira Tract is located in the western part of the Ustyurt Plateau, on the Mangyshlak Peninsula in the Mangistau region. Nature has given full freedom to its imagination here. You can see a unique landscape of unearthly white chalk colors.

The tract covers a huge area. In order to explore it, you will need more than one day. This place is little known and difficult to access for tourists.

amazing landscapes

Tags: landscapes · Mangystau oblast

Bayanaul State National Park is a national park located in the south of the Pavlodar region, 100 km from Ekibastuz city.

This reserve is one of the specially protected natural territories of Kazakhstan. The park, founded in 1985, is the first national park in the country. The total area of ​​the park is 68,453 hectares.

lovely rocky landscape

Tags: landscapes · Pavlodar oblast

You can see these amazing colorful landscapes, if you visit the tract of Atzhal and the Aybyrzhal Mountains located in the area of the Tekes River in Terskey Alatau Mountains, near the border with China (the Almaty region). Photos by: Sergey Terekhov.

gorgeous place

Tags: Almaty oblast · landscapes