Kazakhstan is a huge country, the main pride of which is the steppes and nomads. But that's not all. In such an attractive republic for travelers, there is wonderful nature with a diverse landscape and amazing cities that carry Western luxury combined with Eastern tranquility.
Their architecture is fraught with not only modernity, but also antiquity. At the same time, it is a real exotic of Asian culture, carefully preserving the traditions of the past.
History
The very first data on cities in Kazakhstan date back to the sixth century. Initially, the country's large settlements were located in the cozy valley of the Syr Darya River and in Semirechye. Archaeological excavations in the south of Kazakhstan have revealed the remains of ancient cities built in the sixth - ninth centuries.
The main territory of the steppe region was inhabited by nomads. Their relationship with the townspeople was rather complicated. For nomads, large settlements were centers of trade, but at thatAt the same time, they often attacked them.
There are some settlements in the country that can boast of their antiquity. These include cities in Kazakhstan such as Taraz, Turkestan and Shymkent.
In the seventeenth century, the first Russian settlements appeared in the country. These are Guryev and Yaitsky town. Gradually, Russian colonization came from north to south. At the same time, many cities were founded, most of which can be found on the modern map of the country.
In the twentieth century, large-scale development of deposits for the extraction of minerals was carried out in Kazakhstan. In connection with these works, a large number of modern cities arose.
Administrative territories
There are fourteen regions in Kazakhstan. Eighty-six cities are located in them. These include megacities of republican significance. There are two of them - Almaty and Astana. The largest cities in Kazakhstan are Shymkent, Almaty, Karaganda and, of course, Astana. There are one hundred and sixty-eight districts and one hundred and seventy-four townships in the country.
Cities of Kazakhstan, the list of which is presented below, are the centers of the regions of the country:
- Ust-Kamenogorsk (East Kazakhstan region).
- Taraz (Zhambyl region).
- Karaganda (Karaganda region).
- Aktobe (Aktobe region).
- Taldykorgan (Almaty region).
- Kyzylorda (Kyzylorda region).
- Kostanay (Kostanay region).
- Pavlodar (Pavlodar region).
- Shymkent (South-Kazakh region).
- Uralsk (West Kazakh region).
- Petropavlovsk (North Kazakh region).
- Kokshetau (Akmola region)
- Aktau (Mangistau region).
- Atyrau (Atyrau region).
Baikonur is also a city of republican significance. Here is the world-famous spaceport of the same name, which is leased to Russia until 2050.
Capital
Literally in one decade, Astana has become a beautiful and modern city. The young capital of Kazakhstan in its architecture is in no way inferior to many famous world capitals. Each of the buildings built here is made in the Eurasian style. At the same time, all of them are real works of architectural art. Astana is a majestic symbol of the economic and political independence of Kazakhstan. At the same time, it is rightfully considered the center of cultural and social life in the country.
The capital of Kazakhstan is located in its northern part. It was built near the Nur River, on the banks of the Ishim River. From time immemorial, this place has attracted residents of the steppe territories, as it was located at the intersections of caravan routes. Within the modern city, archaeologists have found evidence of habitation dating back to the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Middle Ages.
The city itself was founded in 1830. And then it was a Cossack outpost. The founder of Astana is Colonel F. K. Shubin. After some time, the fortress began to grow into a city. And by the 19th century, Akmola was an importantthe geopolitical center of the entire region. Since 1961, the city was renamed Tselinograd. Since 1992 he became Akmola. Since 1998 - Astana. Officially, the city became the capital of Kazakhstan on December 10, 1997. Today, Astana occupies an area of more than seven hundred square kilometers. It is a major city in the country.
After gaining the status of the capital of a special economic zone in Astana, a huge number of urban development projects began to be implemented. The population also increased. If in 1996 270 thousand people lived in the city, then in 2006 this figure reached six hundred thousand.
According to the decision of UNESCO, which was adopted in 1999, Astana was given the name "City of Peace".
Alma-Ata
In the list, which includes the largest cities of Kazakhstan, the country's capital is not in the first place. It is ahead of Alma-Ata. Since 1927, it has been the capital of the country. Despite the transfer of its status to Astana, the city remains the only major metropolis of the state, which is home to more than a million inhabitants. In addition, Alma-Ata is the financial, economic and cultural center of the state.
The city is located in the southeastern region of Kazakhstan, at the very foot of the mountainous Zailiyskiy Alatau. The climate in this area is quite mild.
The largest city of Kazakhstan is located in the center of the Eurasia continent. It is worth saying that Vladivostok and Gagra are located on the same latitude with it. The buildings and structures of Alma-Ata are located at an altitude of six hundred to one thousand six hundred and fifty meters above sea level.
The climate throughout the city is characterized by large fluctuations in daily and annual temperatures. The northern residential areas go into the hot steppe, and the southern ones feel the breath of glaciers.
Karaganda
The cities of central Kazakhstan according to the administrative-territorial division belong to the Karaganda region. It is located in the center of the Eurasian continent. The capital of the region is the city of Karaganda. It is a large industrial, cultural and scientific center. Its population in 2006 was almost 452 thousand people. In terms of population, the city ranks fourth in the country.
Karaganda is a large regional center, located on an area of about five hundred and fifty square kilometers. The city has many enterprises of mechanical engineering, food industry and metalworking, as well as coal mining. Transport infrastructure and communications are developed here.
There are eleven cities in the regional subordination. Temirtau is the second largest after Karaganda. Other cities of Kazakhstan, located in the center of its territory, are Balkhash and Zhezkazgan, Satpayev and Shakhtinsk, Priozersk and Saran, as well as Abay. The oldest city in the region is Karkaralinsk. It was founded as a military fortification in 1824
As for the climate, it has a sharply continental character in the Karaganda region. Winters are harsh and summers are hot. The annual amount of precipitation is negligible. In summer, vegetation, as a rule, burns out, and winter snowstorms completely sweepall roads. In spring, the snow melts, turning rivers and ravines into seething streams.
Shymkent
It is on the list, which includes the largest cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Shymken is the regional center of the South Kazakhstan region. This is
modern city. It is inhabited by a little over half a million people. Shymkent is not only the third largest city in the country. In addition, it is a major cultural, commercial and industrial center. Sixty-nine enterprises of mechanical engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, food, oil refining, and chemical industries are located here.
Ust-Kamenogorsk
This is the capital of the East Kazakhstan region, bordering China and Russia. The city is the largest transport and industrial hub among the settlements of Gorny Altai. Date of foundation - 1720, when the construction of a defensive fortress began at the confluence of the Ulba and Irtysh rivers. In the old days, Ust-Kamenogorsk was called the gate of the Altai Mountains, since all expeditions to the mountain ranges passed through it.
Currently it is the largest metallurgical center of the country. The production of cadmium and silver, gold and gallium is deployed here. Light, food and logging industries are developed in the city. There is a silk factory in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
The cities of eastern Kazakhstan, and there are ten of them, are inhabited by Kazakhs and Russians. The second largest after Ust-Kamenogorsk is Semipalatinsk. It also belongs to the East Kazakh region. The city was founded in 1718d. Originally it was a defensive fortress. Semey (Semipalatinsk) was of high commercial importance. Caravan routes passed through it, heading to Russia from Mongolia, as well as to Central Asia from Siberia. From the end of the nineteenth century, Semey became an important pier on the Irtysh with developed shipping. The production of consumer goods is developed in Semipalatinsk. Electric cables, automated systems, as well as various equipment, devices and tools are produced here.
Uralsk
This is the administrative center of the West Kazakhstan region. It is located on a picturesque plain. The Derkud River, which is the right tributary of the Chagan, flows near the settlement. The city of Uralsk (Kazakhstan) is unique in its geographical location. Here is the invisible border between Asia and Europe.
The city was founded in 1613. It was then that a Cossack settlement appeared in these places.
Currently, the area of the city with all its suburbs is more than seven hundred square kilometers. The length of the regional center from north to south is eight, and from east to west - twelve kilometers. According to 2009 data, the population of Uralsk amounted to 211 thousand people. Among them are Kazakhs and Russians, Tatars and Ukrainians, Belarusians and Germans, as well as other nationalities.
If you list the cities of Kazakhstan, which are the industrial, historical and cultural centers of the republic, then Uralsk should definitely be named among them. In recent years, to a large extentits economic importance has strengthened and the share of industrial output has increased. This is facilitated by the Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field located one hundred and fifty kilometers from the city.
Many sectors are involved in the industry of Uralsk. Among them are energy and machine-building, flour-grinding and food industries. The light and construction and material industries are developed here.
Petropavlovsk
This city is the administrative center of the North Kazakhstan region. The date of foundation is considered to be 1752. During this period, the fortress of St. Peter was founded on the site of present-day Petropavlovsk.
Today he is a member of the international assembly of major cities and capitals. In addition, the city of Petropavlovsk (Kazakhstan) is the owner of three grands of the competition of the best cities of the CIS.
There are nine different transport enterprises operating in the regional center, seventeen state organizations of the cultural sphere operate, and the State University named after. M. Kozybayeva.
Rudny
In the summer of 1954, the government of the USSR decided to start building the Sokolovsko-Sarbai mining and processing plant. Thus began the history of Rudny. The city arose in 1957 on the banks of the Tobol on the territory of the Turgai plateau. The endless steppe spreads around him.
The city owes its appearance to the pilot Surganov. When in 1949 he flew over the Sarbai tract, he drew attention to the unusual behavior of his compass. Some time later, geologists and geographers were sent here. Thus it wasSokolovskoye field was discovered. The city of Rudny (Kazakhstan) was built quite quickly. In 1959 it was given city status.
Small towns
Cities of Kazakhstan with a population of up to fifty thousand people are officially called small. Of these, forty-one settlements serve as the administrative center of the respective district. The rest are not. Among them are Temir and Stepnogorsk, Zhem and Emba, Tekeli and Kapchagai, Charsk and Serebryansk, Shakhtinsk and Priozersk, Kurchatov and Saran, Lisakovsk and Karazhal, Arkalyk and Aksu, Shu and Kazalinsk.
