The main source of economic growth in Kazakhstan is the extraction of various natural resources, including coal. Coal mine “Molodezhny” located near Karaganda is among the largest coal producers of the country.

Annual production is about 7 million tons of coal a year. BelAZ trucks (capacity up to 130 tons) are used to transport coal. 1,150 people are working here; the average wage is about $ 300 a month. Coal mine “Molodezhny” location on Google Maps. Photos by Vadim Makhorov

How coal is mined in Kazakhstan

Tags: Karaganda oblast

The territory in the south-eastern part of Kazakhstan from ancient times is called Zhetisu, which means in Kazakh “seven rivers”. The reason for that is the large number of rivers flowing down the slopes of the Tien Shan and Dzhungar Alatau Mountains.

A lot of historical sites along with beautiful nature make this region a paradise for tourists. In this land first state formation of Kazakhs (Kazakh Khanate) originated.

fly over the southeastern Kazakhstan

Tags: landscapes

In 1997, the capital of Kazakhstan was moved to Astana from Almaty to take advantage of Astana more favorable location as it is closer to Russia and the risk of earthquake is much less.

Nowadays, the city is becoming a new cosmopolitan western-style city with skyscrapers and offices of intercontinental oil corporations.

Famous Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa worked on the master plan of the city. Many of the buildings were designed by famous architect Norman Foster. Photos by Petr Ushanov

enjoy the modern architecture of Astana

Tags: Astana city

Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan with a population of about 1.5 million people known as the “Southern Capital”.

The city is located in the center of the Eurasian continent, in the south-east of Kazakhstan, at the foot of the mountains of Trans-Ili Alatau – the most northern ridge of Tien Shan mountains at an altitude of 600 to 1650 meters above sea level. Photos by Max Zolotuhin for voxpopuli.kz

Almaty from above

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Mangystau region is the province in the south-western Kazakhstan, located to the east of the Caspian Sea on the plateau Mangyshla (Mangystau). It is an industrial region – 25% of Kazakhstan oil is extracted in the area (about 20 million tons).

The region is a country of ancient civilization, archaeological reserve in the open air. The peninsula is famous for interesting landscape diversity. Photos by Constantine Kikvidze

enjoy the beautiful scenery

Tags: landscapes · Mangystau oblast

Large fire occurred in the center of Almaty because of fuel truck crash. Fire engulfed the nearby eight-story residential house, the trees in the yard and parked cars.

For unknown reason the truck tipped over and started to burn. All the residents were evacuated, the driver died.

Video of the accident

Tags: Almaty city

Hazrat Sultan is the largest mosque in Central Asia located in Astana – the capital city of Kazakhstan. Construction of the mosque began in June 2009. July 6, 2012, at 12:30, the mosque was opened.

The building was constructed in the classic Islamic style using traditional Kazakh ornaments. The mosque can accommodate up to 10,000 people. “Hazrat Sultan” has the largest dome in Kazakhstan (height – 51 meters, width – 28.1 meters). The height of the minarets is 77 meters. Photos by Petr Ushanov

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Tags: Astana city · mosques

Aktau is a city in south-western Kazakhstan built in a waterless desert on the shores of the Caspian Sea in the Soviet times. It was the center of mining of uranium ore, its processing and enrichment.

Nowadays, it is the center of oil and natural gas extraction in Mangystau region. Aktau port is the only port in Kazakhstan used for international transportation of crude oil and petroleum products.

A couple of interesting facts about Aktau

Tags: Aktau city

Zaysan is a lake located in the East Kazakhstan region of the country, in the open high and flat valley between mountain ranges. The Chinese border is just 60 km from the eastern shore of the lake.

The lake is located at an altitude of 420 m, the length of the lake is 105 km, the width – 22-48 km, maximum depth – 15 m. Zaysan Lake on Google Maps. Photos by Ilia Afanasieff

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Tags: East Kazakhstan oblast

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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