Regions & Cities#
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Almaty
Almaty sits beneath the Tian Shan: apple markets, Panfilov Park and cable cars to Shymbulak pull hikers, skiers and anyone who wants mountains minutes from the city.
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Taldykorgan
Sited on Kazakh steppe, Taldykorgan functions as a regional hub: Soviet-era squares, bazaars selling lamb and dairy, and roads leading toward nearby mountain ranges for summer hiking and winter snows.
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Usharal
A regional town in Jetisu, Usharal functions as a market hub for orchards and shepherds.
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Jarkent
Close to the Zhetysu foothills, Jarkent draws travellers for its ornate wooden mosque, busy markets selling dried fruit and furs, and the nearby Ili River valley offering walks through poplar groves and small village life.
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Ile-Alatau National Park
A short drive from Almaty, Ile-Alatau protects high meadows, glaciers and alpine lakes in the Trans-Ili Alatau; hikers and climbers use marked trails, refuges and summer horseback routes into the mountains.
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Lake Alakol
Lake Alakol in eastern Kazakhstan is a saline lake with seasonal beaches and birdlife.
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Big Almaty Lake
High-altitude reservoir southeast of Almaty in the Trans-Ili Alatau, Big Almaty Lake is a day-trip destination for hikers, photographers and mountain scenery.
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Charyn National Park
East of Almaty, Charyn National Park protects a deep sandstone canyon nicknamed the Valley of Castles; hikers and photographers visit for eroded rock formations, river gorges and short treks.
Southeast Kazakhstan at a Glance#
Local Time
11:35 PM
GMT+5
Population
4,375,251
Best Things to Do in Southeast Kazakhstan#
Park
Charyn National Park
National park with dramatic canyon landscapes and erosion formations
Park
Kolsay Lakes National Park
Alpine lake park known for scenic hiking trails
National Park
Altyn-Emel National Park
Vast park with singing sand dunes and wildlife
Lake
Lake Balkhash
Large unique lake partly fresh, partly saline
Archaeological Site
Tanbaly
Open-air archaeological site with ancient petroglyphs
Spa
Lake Alakol
Saline Kazakh lake with therapeutic resorts and flamingos
Lake
Lake Kaindy
Alpine lake with submerged pine forest
Stadium
Almaty Central Stadium
Major multiuse stadium in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Mountains
Trans-Ili Alatau
Mountain range forming part of northern Tien Shan
Mountains
Küngöy Ala-Too Range
Mountain range forming part of the Tien Shan system
Religious Site
Ascension Cathedral
Wooden Russian Orthodox cathedral and Almaty landmark
