Travel Forum - Traveler Mania

Traveling through the stunning Kazakhstan

 

   
Kazakhstan in rich with nature beauty ..

At roughly half the size of the 48 contiguous United States, Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world, with spectacularly diverse geography and no shortage of places to visit. Northern forests gradually turn into wide flat steppes to more arid regions and finally to deserts in the south. Kazakhstan is rich in minerals and has large oil and gas reserves.

Almaty, in the east, is the country's largest city and commercial capital. The ancestral home of the world's apples has been traced to this region. In fact, "Alma" means "apple." The Great Silk Road caravans came through this ancient city carrying spices, porcelain, silk and civilizing influences from the cultured Orient to the more barbaric west.


 

   

About 100 miles (160 km) east of Almaty are the natural wonders of Altyn-Emel National Park. The region contains rare animals such as Siberian mountain goats, ancient Scythian burial mounds, rock drawings from 3500 years ago and the Kyzyl-Auyz Gorge where there grows the "stone tree" which has bark so hard that it resists an axe. The park also contains otherworldly "lunar" landscapes and the unforgettable "Singing Dunes," which make the sound of an organ in dry weather. Imperceptible movement of grains of sand sliding down the face of the dune in dry weather creates a vibration that becomes electrified in dry conditions, which coupled by resonant conditions in the surroundings, produces powerful sound waves that can be heard miles away.


 

  The Altyn Emel National Park

 

     sands of the Altyn Emel National Park near Almaty

I traveled to the five "stans" in Central Asia about 7 months ago. The natural beauty is exquisite, as your pictures help to show. We visited a wonderful wildlife reserve there, and many other super -interesting sights. We also wanted to see some of the local modern city life, so our tour operater, East-Site Travel recommended a city named Borovoye. While we there we stayed in a modern hotel, and danced at discos! We met some friends at bars for drinks, and ate delicious cuisine at restaurants. We found some great shopping in the city as well. No better way to travel than with friends. and having a good travel agency saves mountains of red tape and eliminates all the stress.