According to history the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan was set on the place of the ancient settlement Almaty, which dates from the III century BC. In 1854 it was developed as a frontier fort at the border of the Russian Empire. For the first time the city has been named Vernyi, later Alma-Ata and now - Almaty.

Artifacts, including ones from the Issyk burial-place, a burial-place of a young warrior, located about 70 km far from Almaty. The number of golden handicrafts found there exceeds 4 thousand units, which are exhibited at the Golden Hall of the Central Museum of the Republic.

Popular places to visit.

Central State Museum – museum of Kazakhstan’s history and culture was founded in Orenburg and moved here in the 1930s. The building now housing the collection, built in 1985, has an original architectural style. The history of Kazakhstan is presented through 120,000 exhibits arranged in four exhibition halls.




Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty
Zenkov Cathedral is surrounded by Panfilov Park, a pleasant rectangle of greenery. The Park was named after the heroes of World War II. The Cathedral is one of the few tzarist-era buildings to survive the 1911 earthquake, despite the fact it is built entirely of wood and constructed without nails. It is also one of the eight most unique wooden buildings in the world. After the revolution it was used as historical museum, cultural center, and just in 1990 again it was given a status of a Russian Orthodox cathedral

Museum of National Musical Instruments, Almaty
Museum of National Musical Instruments is on the edge of Panfilov Park close to the Cathedral, and is located in the building, called the House of Officers, which in the last century was used by military officers for their meetings. Various national musical instruments, the oldest of which are dated from the XVII century are exhibited here. Besides an informative excursion about the Museum, you can get a chance to listen to the tunes of all the instruments exhibited.

Medeu
The ice skating rink Medeu located at the altitude of 1,691.2 meters above sea level is world-known. It was erected in 1972. The ice surface occupies 10.5 thousand sq.m., which allows to conduct contests in skating sport, hockey and figure skating.
Soft climate in the gorge, optimal level of solar radiation, not high atmospheric pressure, gentle breeze and clean glacial water – all this provided high-mountain skating rink with wide popularity.
More than 120 world records were established here by famous sportsmen. During last years the skating rink was improved after conducted modernization.
The mountain valley was named in honor of Medeo, a wanderer who lived in the last century and established own aul in this picturesque site.
High-mountain skating rink is beautiful in any weather. You can admire its beauty from the high point to which you will be raised by the popular stairs of ascension built at the flank of hill Mohnatka. From the city it looks just like a slope covered with dense trees, hence it got its name. At the beginning of the last century the monastic grotto was located here. Up to now pilgrims come here and arrange divine worships.
Several years in succession the ice skating rink turned into the large concert ground where the popular international music festival “Voice of Asia” (“Azia Dauysy”) was carried out in which not only Kazakhstan performers but also variety stars from all over the world take part.
Several years in succession the ice skating rink turned into the large concert ground where the popular international music festival “Voice of Asia” (“Azia Dauysy”) was carried out in which not only Kazakhstan performers but also variety stars from all over the world take part. Reinforced concrete plates are built in the ice surface in which 170 km cooling pipes are distributed. The system of artificial ice freezing does not have analogs worldwide and allows to maintain the ice surface of the skating rink during 8 months per year.
Skating in days off during long years has already become a good tradition not only for city inhabitants but also for guests of Almaty.
Anti-mudflow dam Medeo is located in 25 km from Almaty city at the altitude of 1733 meters above sea level. It was erected for city protection against mudflow forming on peaks of the Western Tien Shan.
The dam has 3 successive altitude levels. Special water reservoir allows to hold about 6 millions cubic meters of water.
Stairs known to city inhabitants and tourists consisting of 842 steps leads to the dam. Contests on ascension along this unique stairs are regularly carried out.

Chimbulak Ski Resort Guide
Chimbulak, in Kazakstan, is a small ski resort with 5 ski lifts (4 chair lifts, 1 surface lift) but it does boast a very impressive 943 metres (3094 feet) of vertical descent. Chimbulak has 99 acres of terrain over 8 pistes with a total length of 15 kilometers (9 miles). We have no information about the existence of any cross country ski trails at Chimbulak. The nearest airport is at Almaty. The hotel at the Chimbulak resort is right on the piste and rooms start at 10,000T (approx:70 USD). The hotel has a reasonably priced bar and restaurant, local beer is 500T for a large one and you can get a meal for 2000T.
Resorts close to Chimbulak include: Orlovka Mountain Ski Resort (120 km),Karakol Mountain Ski Base (150 km), Toguz-Bulak Mountain Ski Base (177 km),Norus Mountain Ski Centre (190 km), Oruu-Say Tourist Centre (197 km),

Big Almaty Lake
There are several picturesque lakes in the mountains of Zailiskiy Alatau. One of them is Bolshoe Almatinskoe (Big Almaty Lake). It is especially beautiful in the morning, when its blue surface mirrors the sky and surrounding mountains. Kazakh name of this lake is Zhasylkol, which means "Blue Lake". It is situated in the middle of canyon of the same name, on the altitude of 2511 meters. The depth of the lake is 35 meters, length is about 1 kilometer, width is up to 500 meters. In summer the water temperature is 10-12 degrees centigrade. From the lakeside opens fascinating view of the nearby peaks: Sovetov and Ozernaya - in the south, cliffy massif of Bolshoy Almatinskiy peak - in the west. The lake is used as natural reservoir storage.
The lake appeared as the result of glacier. When moving away the glacier left a moraine - a pile of stones, crushed stones and soil.
Excursion to Big Almaty Lake is interesting any time of the year. Even in winter, when its surface covered with ice and snow, it captivates with its spaciousness and mystery.
The way to the lake starts right after the microdistrict "Orbita". The road goes near fir-trees and mixed forests that capture with its fresh green in summer and beautiful colors in autumn.
On the way you will be given general information on Zailiskiy Alatau, Bolshaya Almatinskaya River (Big Almaty River) and the canyon itself. You'll see the severe beauty of the mountains, will get acquainted with the flora and fauna, learn the history of this region. You will also visit the station of cosmos communication "Orbita"; mud dam, which protects western part of the city from mudflow; cascade of hydroelectric power station.

Turgen gorge
Turgen Gorge (90 km from Almaty) is an ideal place to enjoy the beauty of the nature. The gorge has hot springs, a trout farm, waterfalls and lots of woods. Rich in coniferous and mixed forests, alpine and sub-alpine meadows, lakes and springs, medicinal herbs and berries, he gorge plunges 44 km to the vast Assy plateau (2,560 m).
The Turgen gorge is famous for its seven waterfalls. The Medvezhy (Bear) Falls drop 30 meters in a beautiful setting amidst overhanging cliffs and green fir trees, while the Bozgul Falls are known for the force of the water, which has worn away an entire tunnel in the rock. The earthquake-damaged cliffs in the gorge still preserve traces of the pre-Ice Age vegetation.
Another notable feature of the gorge is the relict Chin-Turgen mossy fir forests, which cover the ground and form a thick carpet of trees. The most popular stop in the Turgen Gorge is Botan, the hunting base. Here, where three rivers meet, the gorge is at its deepest – 920 meters.
There is an observatory in the plateau. Ancient burial mounds and rock drawings are dotted along the Asy River. There are quite a few Sacae and Usun graves in the gorge dating back to 500 BC – 3—BC. The small mountain lakes above the Sinegorye are wonderful for bathing and fishing, while lower down is a trout farm where you can fish and to cook the delicious fish-meal po-tsarski for supper.

Charyn Canyon
Commonly referred to as Dolina Zamkov (Valley of the Castles), Charyn Canyon is one of Kazakhstan's finest nature spots. With fantastic Grand canyon-style rock sculptures and multi-coloured gorges, the 80 km canyon has excellent canyoning, rafting and hiking and is best visited on a 2-day trip from Almaty or en-route from China.

The Charyn has some of the world's finest rafting - mostly of the highest level of difficulty, which should only be attempted with professional equipment and accompany.

The trekking and hiking in and around Dolina Zamkov is easy; other routes are easier done with professional guidance. A visit to the canyon is also possible in a day-trip from Almaty. Unfortunately at present we cannot recommend camping at the bottom of Dolina Zamkov which has become an all-too-favourite weekend hangout for local tourists.


Geological Background:

The Charyn River is running through the deep canyon with bizarre rock monuments reminding in shape of castles and towers on top of steep rocky walls. The Torajgir Mountain have got elevations of more than 2000 m and are one of several southeast Kazakh mountain ranges north of the Tian Shan.

The walls of Charyn Canyon in Dolina Zamkov area show rock storeys of different ages and different origin. Dark rocks at the bottom of Charyn Canyon and in the lower part of Dolina Zamkov are volcanic lava rocks. These are the oldest rocks in this area. On top of these rocks are layers of much younger rocks. These red cliffs (i.e. the walls of Dolina Zamkov), consist of solid gravel which was deposited by debris flows. The plains around Charyn Canyon are covered with grey gravel which was deposited by rivers, and dust which was deposited by wind. Sand and gravel on the bottom of Charyn Canyon was deposited by Charyn River. Some gravel on terraces above Charyn River is evidence of Charyn's former river bed.

The rocks of Torajgir Mountains are of about the same age as the old volcanic lava rocks and also of volcanic origin. They consist of solid lava and depositions of material thrown out by volcanos eruptions. These rocks were later lifted up along a fault plane (as geologists call it). In western Dolina Zamkov are volcanic rocks of different colours which have about the same age as the other rocks of volcanic origin. They consist (like the rocks of Torajgir Mountains) of ashes and stones thrown out by volcanos. Later these rocks were bended up so that they are at the surface today.