Population of Kazakhstan

Population of Kazakhstan 

The total population of Kazakhstan is slightly over fifteen million inhabitants. Various periods in the country's history have affected the existing demographic situation: the ethnic composition consists of Kazakhs, Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, Koreans, Poles, Greeks, Tatars, Turks and many other nationalities.  

It should be noted that these hospitable lands became a secure place for hundreds of thousands of individuals of various nationalities and religions. Today, many of them recall with gratitude the warmth and comfort offered to them by the natives who shared their last piece of bread in the harsh years of the repressions.  

The government ensures equality and development of the various national cultures. The Peoples' Assembly of Kazakhstan was established in order to coordinate the work carried out by the republic-wide, regional, national and cultural centers.  
 

An increase in the total population has occurred due to the steady increase in birth rates, as well as the return of Kazakhs to their historic fatherland. Under a government quota alone, 374,000 ethnic Kazakhs have come to the Republic from the countries of the CIS and foreign states.  

On the entire post-Soviet territory, only Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan manifest a positive balance in terms of population growth. Population density in Kazakhstan is 5.5 individuals per square kilometer. The region of Southern Kazakhstan is the most densely populated area of the country, with 18 individuals per square kilometer.  

As of January 1, 2004, the Republic consists of 14 regions, 86 towns (including 2 cities of national importance), 160 districts, 186 settlements, and 7,719 villages; the largest city of the country is Almaty, with a population over 1.5 million.  

Covering a huge territory, Kazakhstan is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world - at 6.1 persons per square kilometre. There are 16.2 million inhabitants in Kazakhstan today (fiftieth place in the world): 63,6% of the population are ethnic Kazakhs, and 23,3% - Russians. In addition to the two indicated main ethnic groups, over 120 nationalities live in Kazakhstan. Among them are more than 333,2 thousand Ukranians, 178,2 thousand Germans, 457,2 thousand Uzbeks, and more than 203,3 thousand Tatars. Nearly 54 per cent of the population live in towns and workers' settlements, the rest in rural areas.  

During the last two decades, the rate of population growth has been slow. Such a situation can be explained on one side by the emigration of millions abroad and on the other by the stable decline of the absolute and relative rate of the natural growth of residents. Starting in 1988, as a result of the crisis in the economy and society, the demographic situation seriously worsened: the birth rate descreased and the death rate increased. The total coefficient of the birth rate for the period of 1988-1995 declined from 25.5 to 17 on the basis of 1000 persons, and the coefficient of the death rate grew from 7.5 to 10. For the last 4 years, the negative balance of external migration of the population has exceeded 1 million people.  

Among two thousand ethnic groups and nationalities, Kazakhs hold seventieth place in the world (more than 11.5 million people). Nearly 8 million Kazakhs live in Kazakhstan now. Kazakhs represent the transitive racial group between European and Mongolian South-Siberian peoples. The union of the Turkic and Mongol tribes, who lived on the territory of modern Kazakhstan in approximately the first century B.C., were the forebearers of the Kazakhs. In the middle of the 15th century A.D. Kazakhs formed a separate ethnic group. Until the middle of the 16th century Kazakhs were under the control of the united Khanate (state). In linguistic respects, Kazakhs belong to the Kipchak group of Turkic languages. Kazakhs are the direct heirs of the nomadic cultural civilization of the European and Asian subcontinent, which has played a big role in the history of mankind. The majority of Russians migrated to Kazakhstan from the end of the last century from Central Russia and the Volga region. In the thirties, fifties and sixties of the present century, Russians migrated from all regions of the former USSR for the creation of the industrial base and for the cultivation of the "virgin lands" in Kazakhstan. 

History of Kazakhstan

Important milestones in the history of Kazakhstan 

Kazakhstan has a long and fascinating history, going back thousands of years. Some remnants are still visible today such as Great Silk Road monuments, petroglyphs and sometimes even mysterious archaeological sites. The Amazons might have originated from Kazakhstan, the first steppe nomads are supposed to have emerged from here and it is very likely that Genghis Khan was buried in Eastern Kazakhstan. In recent times more and more details about Kazakh history and culture have been re-discovered, making the country also more and more interesting for domestic and international culture seekers.  

The territory of Kazakhstan came to be mastered by man nearly a million years ago. As early as the age of the Lower Paleolithic, ancient man settled down on these Karatau lands fit for normal life, rich with game and wild fruit. It is here that they have found ancient settlements from the Stone Age. By and by, in the centuries of the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, man came to master Central and Eastern Kazakhstan and the Mangyshlak area.  

As has been shown by excavations of the Neolithic settlement Botay in Northern Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan constitutes a region of horse domestication (breeding) and that of the formation of nomadic civilizations. Archeologists have revealed dwellings and numerous hand-made articles of stone and ivory which present the ancient history and archeology of Kazakhstan in the Stone age in an altogether new way.  

As early as the Bronze Age, some four millennia ago, the territory of Kazakhstan was inhabited by tribes of the so-called Andron and Begazy-Dandybay culture. They were engaged in farming and cattle-breeding, and were fine warriors who handled combat chariots marvelously. To this day we can see images of chariots drawn on rocks where ancient people would arrange their tribal temples and sanctuaries with the firmament as their natural cover. On the surfaces of black cliffs burnt with the sun people would chisel out scenes of dances, images of sun-headed deities, mighty camels and bulls as impersonations of ancient gods.  
 

Burial mounds of noble warriors scattered all throughout Kazakh steppes are known for the magnificent size both of the mounds and burial vaults proper. Particularly famous are such necropolis in the steppes of Sary-Arka and Tagiskent in the Trans-Aral area 

Resorts of Kazakhstan

Recreation. The best places for rest and recreation among the natural resorts of Kazakhstan  Chimbulak Alpine Skiing Resort

The alpine ski resort of Chimbulak sits seven kilometers from Medeo, at 2200-2500m. The length of the runs from Talgar Pass is 3500 meters. The slalom run is 1500 meters in length. Chimbulak has both chairlifts and rope tows. The alpine skiing season begins in the middle of November and ends in April ... 

            Tabagan Resort

The new "Tabagan" complex is located in the Talgar area of Almaty region, near the national natural reserve, 17km from the city of Almaty. This complex occupies 55 hectares, at 1650m. The terrain of this district and its favorable weather characteristics allow for year-round operation of the complex. During winter, it is used for downhill skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling... 

            Ak-Bulak Mountain Ski Resort

Bewitching natural landscapes, first rate recreation, a unique tramway, and ski and snowboard routes, 35 km from Almaty. An opportunity to combine exclusive, exciting recreation, corporate seminars, and business meetings with partners! Tramway: with a length of 3700m, it will take you to a height of 2660m. The base of the tram sits right next to the hotel, and a cosy carriage will whisk you uphill at a speed of 6m/sec... 

            Medeo Skating Rink

Medeo Ice rink is well known all over the world, located at a height of 1691.2m. It was constructed in 1972, and has an ice surface of 10.5 thousand sq. m, allowing for the conduction of competitions in speed skating, ice hockey and figure skating. The canyon's mild climate, optimal solar radiation levels, low atmospheric pressure, light winds and pure glacial water has provided high quality ice and world renowned ... 

            Rakhmanov Hot Springs

"Rakhmanovskie Kluchi" Hot Springs Resort

The underground rivers of this place presumptively contain a curative form of radon - a product of the disintegration of radioactive elements from very rare minerals of granite. The hot springs are used for the treatment of diseases of the joints, backbone, nervous system and skin. A peasant named Rahmanov discovered the hot springs in 1763. According to legend, he wounded a maral. Losing strength, the wounded animal entered the springs and left completely healed ... 

            Borovoye Resort

The Borovoye lake is the beauty and pride of this area, featuring a variety of sanitariums, camping sites and resorts with crowded shores and all the attributes of resort life: restaurants, beaches, stores and dance halls. Across the small mountainous isthmus you can get from Borovoye lake to the Big Chebach lake. It is perfect for lovers of unhurried and "wild" recreation who prefer camping and intimate contact with nature... 

            The Nur-Bulak complex

The "Nur-Bulak" complex is located close to Tokpaiyn village, at the bottom of a mountain in needle-leaved and birch forest. The road to the complex is asphalted. The healing spring Nurbulak (in translation from Kazakh Language - a radiating light streamlet) flows directly on base territory... 
 
 

The most popular ecological sites in Kazakhstan

The nature of Kazakhstan

The Singing Barhan

Across the Ili river in the north-east from Almaty there is a strange mountain. People call it in different ways: the Singing Barhan, the Singing Mountain. It is made of light tones sand and against the background of the dark ridges of the Dzungarian Alatau - the Big and Small Kalkans - represents an extraordinary sight thanks to the color contrast. The sand mountain is 1,5 km long and 120 m high.  

The barhan is located in a peculiar passage between the Kalkans ridges. It has been formed as a result of wind activity bringing sand from the Ili banks and laying it in this place. In dry weather the sand runs down the barhan's slope, and a sound appears. Gradually it increases and sounds like a streamer hooter. A similar natural phenomenon is known in other places of the globe as well: In the Arabian Desert, on the Hawaiian Islands, in America and China. For a long time the nature of sand sounding has been a mystery.  

In 1962 V. Arabadzhi, a physicist from Leningrad, made a series of observations of the Singing Barhan: he recorded the sand sound, measured the temperature, strength and direction of wind, determined the sand fractions. The reason of the sand sound turned out to be its movement. When walking on the sand, the sounds remind of snow crunching, quick and strong movement causes the sound like a scream. The more is a moving mass the more expressive is the sound - from week squeak to crash. The sound appears due to other conditions as well.  

The biggest volume falls at the middle of the day and at the temperature of about +24°. The sounds are produced only by a dry sand mass. Having climbed one of its three peaks, one can admire the Ili river and Zailiisky Alatau ridge panorama. If the mountain keeps silence impatient visitors make it sing. For this one must quickly run down the south slope where the sand is not compressed so much. The sand jets will run from under the legs, and strong buzzing will appear form the barhan's depth. Sometimes besides sounding the barhan starts shaking. And it gives the impression of an earthquake. 

Medeo

It is the largest high-mountain complex of winter sports in the world. It is located in the Medeo Canyon at the height of 1700m. It was built in 1972 on the site of the old skating-ring with natural ice, which operated in 1950-70. The ice area square (10,5 thousand m2) allows providing of contests in the high-speed skating race, the Russian hokey, figure skating, motor-speedway and other sport and cultural measures at the skating ring. The refrigerating plants capacity can "keep" ice 8 months a year, and the skating ways - during the whole year. 

The special Medeo mad protection structure is located near the skating ring. The dam construction began in 1964, according to the measures under the complex Almaty mad protection. The dam height is 150m, length - 530m, width under the base - 800m. According to calculations, it can stand for the flow of 10 million m3. 

The Charyn Canyon

The Great Canyon! No, you are not in the North America! And it is not the Colorado River! 

The Charyn Canyon, in many travelers' opinions is one of the most exotic places of rest. The unique landscape transfers you to the fairy-tale world of "The Castles Valley" and "The Witches' Canyon"… The canyon stretches for 154 km from the North-East to the South-West along the Charyn River. It is one of the most full-flowing rivers of the Northern Tien-Shan (193 km to the East from Almaty). That surprisingly picturesque site has the variable relief and strikes with it peculiarity. The height of the steep slopes, columns and arcs reaches 150-300 meters.  

The Americans, visiting Charyn, are excitingly surprised about how that local landscape is similar to the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona. Million layers of the petrified red sandstone, naked as the result of continuous wind erosion, have formed the supernatural landscape. Of special beauty are the rocky precipices, colored by the sunset. The landscape variety conditions different forms of flora and fauna. Over 1500 types of plant grow there, 17 of which are in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan and 62 species of mammals, 103 types of nestling birds and 25 types of reptiles. In spite of enjoying the un- describable nature beauty, you'll make several splendid photos and swim in the mountain river. 

Tamgaly

Tamgaly - is translated, as "drawings" from the Kazakh language. Occasionally, a unique place with petroglyphs of unknown civilization was found in the Tamgaly Canyon in the late 50-s. It was hidden in the Anrakhai Mountains 170 km to the North-West from Almaty. The petroglyphs gallery was hollowed three and a half thousand years ago. The mysterious civilization, lived there, disappeared, having left over 4000 drawings to us. Our mysterious ancestors showed their whole way of life and world outlook in drawings on stones. It is a true ancient art gallery, pictures of which describe both individual animals and people and the whole scenes from the ancient people's life.  

The wide and smooth rock surfaces have been covered with "the desert sunburn" during many centuries, having become an ideal background of that unique gallery; not one generation of the ancient masters-artists worked on it. During centuries the Tamgaly Canyon rocks and the narrow valley preserved meaning of sanctuary - i.e. places, where the ritual ceremonies were performed, magic rites, worship to gods and ancestors' spirit were provided - for different peoples, left their trace in the history of Kazakhstan.  

The burial grounds of the Bronze Epoch (the 9-10th centuries B.C.) and earlier nomads (the 3th century B.C. and the 2th century of our era) and their settlements are there near the canyon. Drawings of currently completely disappeared animals, such as the Przhevalskiy horse, kulan, cheetah, karakal, Tugainiy deer, aurochs of big constitution, tiger, short-legged bison, trubkozub, water goat, including one picture describing a Wild ("Snow") man's woman turned to be in Tamgaly. But separate place is devoted to the fantastic personages in the petroglyphs' repertory, the so-called "sun-headed". May be, they were priests, and, may be, alien guests. Only 26 drawings have been preserved up to our days.  

The ancient among them: figures of 40-75 centimeters, drawn in the static poses with elaborative "nimbuses", formed by different combinations of circles, circumferences, rays and points - are remarkable for their expressiveness. Very interesting are pictures of the ritual sacrifices, initiation rites (two dancing priests with two men, let into warriors), fertility cult, shots with bows, riders on horses and aurochs and many other. All drawings were made with solid stones (quartz). Not all the Tangaly monuments have been thoroughly studied; thus many questions, concerning the history of the bewitched Tamgaly place are remained without a reply for the time being. Tribes of the Bronze Epoch were the ancient residents of Tangaly, which inhabited the Kazakhstan land in the II millennium B.C. There origin is disputable. 

The Committee for the World Heritage made the decision at its 28th Session, held in the Chinese Suzhu since June 28 up to July 7, 2004- to include "Petrogluphs of the Archeological Tamgaly Landscape" into the UNESCO List of the World Heritage, according to the Kazakhstan proposal and taking into account Recommendations of the International Council of Monuments and Historic Places Protection (ICOMOS). 

Tamgaly-Tas

The Ily River is the largest river in Semirechye. Its length is 1430 km. The river head is in the Almaty Region, it forms Kapchagai, the artificial reservoir, on its way back from China and flows into the Balkhash Lake. The river served once in antiquity, as a busy road of the Great Silk Way from the West China. Buddha looks to the sky from the big stone on the right bank many centuries. It is Tamgaly-Tas - "stones, covered with drawings". Numerous petroglyphs, expressing mysterious divinities, late Buddhists' inscriptions, essence and meaning of which are to be deciphered, have been preserved at the black rocks with sunburn. There are about 1000 rock pictures: on hunting for deer, and Buddha's images. 

The saint text under the pictures states in Sanskrit: "Om mane padmekhum", which means: "the Snow pearl in the lotus flower". There is another translation variant: "Let be blessing that, who was born from lotus". Inscriptions and drawings are referred by historians to the XII century. There is one more stone (not far from altar) with inscriptions in the ancient runic Turkic script of the Kipchak tribes, dated by the VIII - IX centuries. It is assumed, that they were left by the ancient Kipchak's tribes: scientists are to prove it. Buddhism was widely spread on the South Kazakhstan territory in the Middle Ages. The river valley is one of the picturesque places of the Almaty region, regardless the fact, that it represents the desert and half-desert landscape. 
 

The Big Almatinskoye Lake

The Big Almatinskoye Lake is located high in the Big Almatinka River Canyon (at the height of 2511m above the sea level and 25 km to the South from Almaty). It is located in the cavity, as if bright mirror, surrounded by the majestic peaks from all sides. The majority of the mountain Tien-Shan lakes have appeared, as the result of earthquakes. The Big Almatinskoye Lake is the largest among such lakes. It is located at the height of 2511 m, its depth reaches 35m, length - about 1km and width - up to 500m.  

The water temperature is 10-120C in summer. The charming panorama of mountains with surrounding peaks is opened from the lake coast. The Sovety Peak and the Ozyorniy Peak are raised behind the lake in the South, and the rock massif of the Big Almatinskiy Peak - in the West. The lake is turned into the natural reservoir. It was formed, as the result of the ancient glassier activity. It left moraine, i.e. conglomeration of detrital rocks, detritus, stones, earth - behind it, while stepping back. Later water from melted snow filled in the formed cavity. The hydro-electric stations cascade was built in the Big Almatinskiy Canyon and the intake constructions were set up at the lake in the 50-60-s.  

After the mudflow in 1977, the natural lake dam was strengthened and extended up to 8-10m. in the early 80-s, thus solving the problem of its potential destruction. The lake is very cold in winter, even its view, and it shines with the tender blue-green light from inside on the background of peaks: Sovety, Ozyorniy and Big Almatinskiy during the rest period of the year. 
 

Culture of Kazakhstan

Kazakh culture and national traditions

The Kazakh people are rich in traditions. From birth through old age and death, every step of their lives has historically been marked with celebration. Even their funeral ceremonies have their own special symbolism.  

Unfortunately, many rich and interesting traditions and customs of the Kazakh people have been forgotten throughout the past century. Real sovereignty is just now being reestablished in Kazakhstan due to the process of democratization. These abandoned traditions are just now being rediscovered by the Kazakh people. These traditions include being respectful to old people; being patriotic to the motherland; being honest; and learning to love mankind.