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Almaty

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan.

Almaty from hill (cropped)
Almaty from hill (cropped)

It sits in the southern part of the country. The city lies near the border with Kyrgyzstan. It is built in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains.

Almaty, Kok-tobe exposition 2
Almaty, Kok-tobe exposition 2

Two rivers run through the city. These are the Big Almaty and Small Almaty rivers. They start in the mountains and flow down to the plains. The city sits at a height of 700 to 900 metres. This makes it a very important center for culture and money. It is the second-largest city in Central Asia.

Almaty districts
Almaty districts

Many things make Almaty a busy place to live. The city has a very large metropolitan area. More than two million people live there.

Trolleybus in Almaty
Trolleybus in Almaty

People use many ways to travel around. There is an extensive network of buses and trolleybuses. The Almaty Metro also helps people move through the city.

Air astana plane taking off
Air astana plane taking off

The city has a very large airport. It is the busiest in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Over 9.5 million passengers use it every year. This makes the city a major hub for the whole region.

Almaty has a very long and interesting history. Long ago, farmers and cattle-breeders lived in this area.

Kazakhstan State Museum
Kazakhstan State Museum

During the Bronze Age, people built settlements here. Later, tribes like the Saka and Wusun lived on these lands. The city was once called Alma-Ata.

Opera in Almaty
Opera in Almaty

It served as the capital of Kazakhstan for many years. It was the capital from 1929 until 1997. After the capital moved to Akmola, people called Almaty the "Southern Capital." It is still a very important and diverse place today.

Nature is a huge part of life in Almaty. The city is known for being very green. It has many urban parks and tree-lined streets.

Ascention Cathedral in Almaty
Ascention Cathedral in Almaty

You can see beautiful fountains throughout the city. Many people visit for outdoor adventures. They go to the Ile-Alatau National Park to see nature.

Some people visit the Medeu ice rink. It is the highest-altitude ice rink in the world. Others go to the Shymbulak ski resort.

Universiade 2017. Speed Skating. KOR - RUS 2
Universiade 2017. Speed Skating. KOR - RUS 2

These places make the city a great spot for tourism.

Almaty is also a center for learning and music. It is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Museum of Folk Instruments, Almaty
Museum of Folk Instruments, Almaty

This is because of its many musical contributions. The city has many famous schools and universities. These include Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Abai Theatre
Abai Theatre

You can also visit the Green Bazaar or the Arbat. For a great view, people go to Kök Töbe.

Almaty, Kok-tobe exposition 2
Almaty, Kok-tobe exposition 2

From the hilltop, you can see the whole city. You can also see the mountains surrounding it.

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🖼️ Images & Media (22)
File:Zenkov cathedral.jpg
Zenkov cathedral.jpg
File:Акимат Алматы на Площади Республики. Июль, 2015 года.JPG
Акимат Алматы на Площади Республики....
File:Eternal Flame World War II monument. Almaty, Kazakhstan.jpg
Eternal Flame World War II monument....
File:Opera in Almaty.JPG
Opera in Almaty.JPG
File:International conference on Primary Health Care - Conferencia Internacional sobre Atención Primaria de Salud - Almaty -1978.jpg
International conference on Primary...
File:Trolleybus in Almaty.JPG
Trolleybus in Almaty.JPG
File:Smog over Almaty.jpg
Smog over Almaty.jpg
File:Alfarabi3.jpg
Alfarabi3.jpg
File:Alma-Ata NK-43 (1948) - panoramio.jpg
Alma-Ata NK-43 (1948) - panoramio.jpg
File:Almaty districts.svg
Almaty districts.svg
File:Abai Theatre.jpg
Abai Theatre.jpg
File:Museum of Folk Instruments, Almaty.jpg
Museum of Folk Instruments, Almaty.jpg

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