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ALMATY - my hometown and former capital |
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The (former) capital city of Kazakhstan, Almaty is known for its beauty, with tree-lined streets, spacious parks, and a dramatic mountain backdrop. The city is located in the center of a fruit-growing region and Almaty is actually translated from Kazak Language as "father of apples." And I live right in the downtown of the biggest city! Few blocks from the House of Parliament, in the very nice neighborhood by the park! Sweet!
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OVERVIEW of Kazakhstan |
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Kazak history goes long way back. Territory of Kazakhstan has come to be mastered by man nearly a million years ago. As early as the age of Lower Paleolithic the ancient man settled down on these Karatau lands fit for normal life, rich with game and wild fruit. It is there that they have found ancient settlements of Stone Age.
The aggravated economic and political situation generated the issue of joining Russia, a process that lasted nearly 150 years. In the period spanning late October 1917 and March 1918 Soviet power was established mostly in cities and other more or less significant settlements of Kazakhstan.
The process of establishment of Soviet Power in most of the Kazakhstan countryside went on up to the very beginning of the Civil war.In 1941-1945 Kazakhstan comes to be involved in the World War II, more particularly in the Great Patriotic war against the invasion of fascist Germany. In this period practically all Kazakhstan enterprises put out only defence produce.
Major industrial facilities and cultural establishments are being evacuated to Kazakhstan from western and central areas of the USSR. The war years are filled with the selfless heroic labour of millions of Soviet people in industries and agriculture. In WWII Kazakhstan lost nearly 425,000 people. Tremendous natural resources of Kazakhstan, social and political stability in the Republic make this region one of the most attractive objects of capital investments among other republics of the late Soviet Union.
Republic of Kazakhstan has become a full-fledged equal member of the world community to enjoy universal recognition and support of absolute majority of the states of the world. As of today Kazakhstan has been recognized by 113 states including 105 ones that maintain diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan.
Today we witness consolidation of interaction, extension of cooperation with most authoritative international agencies. Among them is the UNO, the European Community, the International and European Banks for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the IAEA, the IFRCRCS, the UNICEF, the UNESCO, the WHO, etc. The Republic has acceded to more than 40 international conventions, it has signed almost 400 multilateral and over 700 bilateral agreements and treaties.
In 1997 there has been adopted a decision on transferring the capital of the country from Almaty to Akmola, the circumstance conditioned by geopolitical and economic considerations of Kazakhstan's development.
More on history read HERE
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FACTS AND FIGURES of Kazakhstan |
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| Full Name |
Republic of Kazakhstan |
| Government |
Republic; two chambers: a 47-member upper house, or Senate; and a
67-member lower house, or Majlis. |
| Land |
2,717,300 sq. km (1,049,200 sq. mi) |
| Population |
(1997 estimate) of 16,881,793 |
| Drinking Age |
Although the law limits the drinking age to 16, almost all kids try alcohol and drink before that age |
| Languages |
Currently Russian and Kazak are two national languages. |
| Capital |
The capital is Astana, and the largest city is Almaty. |
| Emergency Phones |
Dial from any phone - 01 - Fire; 02 - Police; 03 - Ambulance; 04 - Gas/Hazmat |
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