The Republic of Kazakhstan

 

The Republic of Kazakhstan, situated at the heart of Eurasia, appeared on the geopolitical map just 15 years ago. The name Kazakh, which is of Turkic origin, is thought to mean “free man”; an appropriate moniker for a land historically populated by freedom-loving nomads. 
 

For thousands of years, these nomads tended vast cattle herds, pasture lands and the fertile soils of the region’s foothills and river valleys. Both the historic Silk Road and Sable Route, along which expensive furs were transported, passed through the region making Kazakhstan an important cultural, trade and economic bridge between Asia and Europe. 
 

The land of many nationalities

Kazakhstan is home to many different nationalities and faiths, all united by a common historical destiny. This variety of tradition, heritage and language is treasured by the Republic of Kazakhstan which believes there to be much truth in the Japanese saying: “You can survive without your relatives; you cannot survive without your neighbours.”

The people of Kazakhstan are proud of their diversity. Century after century, generation after generation Kazakhstan has always sought to encourage friendship and tolerance among its people. 
 

Currently around 130 nationalities populate Kazakhstan. Around 54% are Kazakhs, 30% are Russian and the remaining 16% constitutes Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Germans and Tartars. The predominate religions are Islam and Christianity.

The state language of Kazakhstan is Kazakh, however the younger generations are becoming increasingly trilingual. Both Kazakh and Russian are used by the authorities and governing institutions of Kazakhstan. Kazakh is considered the language of the ancestors, Russian is widely spoken and English is enjoying a growing popularity as the language most commonly used to communicate with foreign visitors. 
 

The city of the future

The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana, a city founded as a fortress in 1830. Having only become the country’s capital in 1997, Astana is a young but fast-growing modern city full of bright prospects, rich opportunities and dazzling ideas.

In 1999, in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, Astana received an honourable mention in UNESCO’s “Cities for Peace” awards. Astana continues to live up to this and is developing itself as “a model city of social wellbeing.”

Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan Nazarbaev, is keen to ensure that Astana is a city in which innovative projects are realised. There are already many sites of interest in the Kazakhstan capital including:

• The Oceanarium, sometimes referred to as “a seawater drop in the steppe.”

• The world’s youngest opera theatre. Many international celebrities, including Dmitry Khvorostovsky, have already performed on its stage.

• The “Baiterek” monument, constructed from glass and concrete, towers above Astana offering a panoramic view of the entire city.

Astana is a city of future not only as a result of its unique architectural style, but also its open and hospitable nature. Astana has played host to the UN Secretary General and Pope John Paul II. The Kazakhstan capital is a place open to businessmen and tourists, artists and sportsmen. 
 

The star called Almaty

Certain world cities stand out due to their iconic and memorable landmarks. The mere mention of San Francisco, for example, usually conjures an image of the Golden Gate Bridge. Paris similarly brings to mind the Eiffel Tower. For Kazakhstan, the city of Almaty offers an enduring image with its picturesque valley Medeo.

Thirty years ago, when Kazakhstan was one of the Soviet republics, Almaty was already considered a city of particular note and beauty. It is surrounded on all sides by mountains - the largest of which peak at 7,000 meters - which offer considerable protection from cold winds. This means Almaty’s climate is far more agreeable than that of neighbouring areas. Even when winter frosts of -50°C reign just fifty kilometres away, temperatures in Almaty remain at around 0°C. And in summer, as the evening breeze wafts through the city’s streets mixing with the aroma of local flowers, the heat of the Ili sands contrasts with the mild coolness of the city creating a climate that’s unusually mild for Mid-Eurasia.

Almaty is also a city that successfully brings together people of different cultures. Eastern and European traditions are closely interwoven here and the city’s inhabitants are open-minded and friendly. The city has a well-developed infrastructure, a solid standard of living, a strong economy and international quality recreational facilities. 
 

Once seen, never forgotten

Despite being the ninth largest country in the world, Kazakhstan remains, for many people, an unknown and enigmatic place. Even the most well-travelled visitor will find many fascinations in Kazakhstan: mountain peaks covered with snow, vast highlands, deep rivers, parched deserts, endless fields covered with flowers and virgin forest reserves.

Kazakhstan’s natural beauty is outstanding. The Tyan-Shan, Tarbagatay and Altay mountains, located in the south, south-east and the west part of the country, gleam with snow and glaciered peaks. The Caspian Sea - sometimes referred to as the world’s largest lake - lies to the west and the Sary Arka steppe is home to the fascinating part fresh water, part salt water Balkhash Lake. Northern Kazakhstan offers similar areas of beauty and is home to hundreds of picturesque glacier lakes surrounded by the pine woods of Kokshetau.

It would, of course, take pages to detail all of Kazakhstan’s attractions. The rock paintings and sculptures in the Bayan Aul national park are particularly unforgettable while the Kurgaldzhino natural reserve offers more than 300 types of plants and the world’s most northern colony of flamingos.

Much emphasis is placed on the preservation of the country’s many natural reserves, national parks and their unique landscapes, fauna and flora. Kazakhstan is an excellent eco-destination. It is unspoilt, varied and beautiful.

Those looking for rest and relaxation, as well as impressive natural attractions, will enjoy the Kokshetau  natural park’s famous resorts and spas, therapeutic mudbaths and mineral water springs. 
 

Cosmodrome and historical monuments

Kazakhstan is a veritable treasury of ancient architecture with tens of thousands of monuments of the past.

One of the most impressive of these is Akhyrtash, a half-finished construction situated in the south of the country. The story of this monument was already a mystery in the13th century and remains as such today. No one knows when, why or who started building this construction, which consists of some 100 rooms in an intricate layout. Some scientists believe it was built as a Buddhist monastery, others believe it to be a Nestorian monastery.

Also of interest are the underground mosques of Mangyshlak. These were built a thousand years ago and remain draught-free even when the doors and air-holes are opened.

Kazakhstan effectively blends its respect for the past with its desire to embrace the future. A highlight for many visitors is a space tour round the Baikonur Cosmodrome. This is the world’s oldest and largest operational space launch facility. The first artificial satellite and first human space flight with Yuri Gagarin were launched from here.

Welcome to Kazakhstan

It is not necessary to search the entire world for fascinating tradition, beautiful, pristine nature or a delicate mixture of old and modern: simply visit Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan guests are made welcome as they experience the very heart of Eurasia. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Let me introduce myself. My full name is Andrei Andreevich Ivanov. I have been named after my father and I am very happy about it. I was born on April, 7, 1981 in Moscow. I descend from the family of the office-workers. I am an only child in the family. I am a pupil of the eleventh form of a secondary school. I finish school this year. I want to enter the University of Moscow. That is why I have to study twice as hard as an ordinary pupil. I do not only do my best at school, I take a preparatory course at the University. The course lasts for six months. We have lectures and seminars three times a week: on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I come to the University at 5 p.m. and leave it at 8 p.m. The lectures on literature, social sciences and history are given in the lecture-rooms. The seminars are held in small groups in the class-rooms. We have classes of English too. During our English classes we read and translate texts, discuss books, listen to the tape-recorder. At the University we learn a lot of useful and interesting things. But most of all I like the subject of my future speciality. I am always very busy, but when I am free I like to read books. My favourite writer is Ernest Hemingway. I like to go to the museums and art galleries. My favourite painter is Rembrandt van Rijn. I have a lot of friends. But my best friend is Nick. I like to travel. My parents and I have visited many ancient Russian towns. I am on friendly terms with my parents. I am very happy... 
 
 

Позвольте мне  представляться. Мое полное имя - Андрей Андреевич Иванов. Меня назвали после  того, как мой отец и я очень  довольны этим. Я родился 7 апреля 1981 в Москве. Я спускаюсь с семьи  конторских служащих. Я - единственный ребенок в семье. Я - ученик одиннадцатой формы средней школы. Я заканчиваю школу в этом году. Я хочу поступить в университет Москвы. Именно поэтому я должен дважды столь же прилежно учиться как обычный ученик. Я не только прилагаю все усилия в школе, я беру предварительный курс в университете. Курс длится в течение шести месяцев. У нас есть лекции и семинары три раза в неделю: в понедельник, в среду и в пятницу. Я приезжаю в университет в 17:00 и оставляю его в 20:00. Лекции по литературе, общественным наукам и истории даны в комнатах лекции. Семинары проведены в небольших группах в классных комнатах. У нас есть классы английского языка также. Во время наших английских классов мы читаем и переводим тексты, обсуждаем книги, слушаем магнитофон. В университете мы изучаем много полезных и интересных вещей. Но больше всего мне нравится предмет моей будущей специальности. Я всегда очень занят, но когда я свободен, мне нравится читать книги. Мой любимый автор - Эрнест Хеменгуэй. Мне нравится идти в музеи и картинные галереи. Мой любимый живописец - Рембрандт ван Риджн. У меня есть много друзей. Но мой лучший друг - Ник. Мне нравится путешествовать. Мои родители и я посетили много древних российских городов. Я дружу со своими родителями. Я очень счастлив... 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

About myself О себе 

My name is Alexander Belov. 

Меня зовут  Александр Белов. 

I am Marina Novikova. 

Я Марина Новикова. 

I'm 25 years old. / I'm twenty-five years old. / I'm twenty-five. 

Мне 25 лет. / Мне  двадцать пять лет. / Мне двадцать пять. 

I was born on May 3, 1984. (on May third / on the third of May, nineteen eighty-four) 

Я родился 3 мая 1984 года. (третьего мая) 

I was born in 1987 in a small town near Moscow. 

Я родился в 1987 году в маленьком городе недалеко от Москвы. 

I was born in Novosibirsk and grew up there. 

Я родился и  вырос в Новосибирске. 

I graduated from school in 2002. / I finished school in 2002. (in two thousand two) 

Я окончил школу  в 2002 г. 

My family moved to St. Petersburg five years ago. 

Моя семья переехала  в Санкт-Петербург пять лет назад. 

My father is an economist. (a scientist, a surgeon, a bus driver, a pilot) 

Мой отец экономист. (ученый, хирург, водитель автобуса, летчик) 

My mother is a nurse. (a doctor, a teacher, a designer, an engineer) 

Моя мать медсестра. (врач, учитель, дизайнер, инженер) 

I have a brother. His name is Anton. He is younger than I am. He is three years younger than I am. (Informal: He is younger than me. He is three years younger than me.) 

У меня есть брат. Его зовут Антон. Он младше, чем  я. Он на три года младше, чем я. (Разговорный вариант: Он младше меня. Он на три года младше меня.) 

I have a brother. His name is Denis. He is older than I am. He is two years older than I am. (Informal: He is older than me. He is two years older than me.) 

У меня есть брат. Его зовут Денис. Он старше, чем  я. Он на два года старше, чем я. (Разговорный  вариант: Он старше меня. Он на два года старше меня.) 

I have a younger sister Natasha. She is a schoolgirl. 

У меня есть младшая  сестра Наташа. Она школьница. 

I'm single. I'm not married. 

Я не женат. / Я  не замужем. 

I'm married. I have a family. 

Я женат. / Я замужем. У меня семья. 

We live in a nice apartment in a modern building. 

Мы живем в  хорошей квартире в современном  здании. 

We live on a quiet street near a large park. 

Мы живем на тихой улице около большого парка. 

My address is 35 Ivanova Street, Apartment 61. (sixty-one) 

Мой адрес: улица  Иванова, дом 35, квартира 61. 

I live at 26 Lesnaya St., Apt. 18. (eighteen) 

Я живу в доме 26, Лесная ул., кв. 18. 

I like to read and walk with my dog. 

Я люблю читать и гулять с собакой. 

We like classical music. 

Мы любим классическую музыку. 

My hobby is photography. 

Мое хобби –  фотография. 

My hobby is taking pictures of birds. 

Мое хобби –  фотографировать птиц.