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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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

If you decide to travel by car and your route runs along the south of Kazakhstan, I recommend you to visit the following unique Kazakhstan monument of rock art – Tamgaly.

Petroglyphs (rock carvings) of the archaeological landscape Tamgaly are one of the oldest and most striking monuments of Semirechye (Seven Rivers) rock art, since 2004 it has the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Tags: Almaty oblast

Big Almaty Lake is a beautiful turquoise lake located about 15 km south of Almaty, at the height of 2510 meters. The lake is not only pleasing the eyes of tourists and residents of Almaty, but also gives the city clean water from the glaciers of the Tien Shan.

The lake appeared as a result of an earthquake. Big Almaty Lake has unusual for most lakes color that varies from light green to turquoise. The depth is about 40 meters, the length – 1.5 km, the width – 1 km. It is the part of the Ile-Alatau National Park. Big Almaty Lake location on Google Maps. Photos by Andrey Gavrikov

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Tags: Almaty oblast

Natural Reserve Kyzyl-Kent is located in the east of Kent Mountains, 250 km south-east of Karaganda.

Mountainous oasis Kent is of great interest due to the fact that these areas are not developed and do not attract a lot of tourists because of the lack of large bodies of water. The following nice photos of this place were captured in September 2012 by Ilia Afanasieff

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Tags: Karaganda oblast