What to See in Karaganda (Kazakhstan)
According to ask4beauty, Karaganda is located in the very center of Kazakhstan and is the administrative center of the Karaganda region. Karaganda grew out of small settlements founded in the 19th century, in the vicinity of which coal was mined. The city received development in the 20-40s of the 20th century thanks to the same coal deposits. Around the same time, the infamous ALZHIR and Karlag camps for political prisoners appeared in the vicinity of Karaganda.
In the city, it is worth visiting the Regional Museum of Local Lore, which occupies 14 halls, which presents exhibits on the history of the region, the Regional Museum of Fine Arts with collections of paintings, drawings, sculptures and decorative and applied arts, Karaganda Ecological Museum, which tells about the history and consequences of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, about the history of the Baikonur cosmodrome and about the only Sary-Shagan anti-missile test site in Eurasia, and one of the oldest zoos in the republic, founded in the early 20th century.
To the east of Karaganda is the Karkaraly State National Natural Park, where all the natural diversity of the Kazakh upland, or, as it is called in Kazakhstan, “Saryarka” is represented. Local landscapes are very diverse: here mountains, forests, steppes, deserts and lakes adjoin each other.
In the western part of the Karaganda region are located Ulytau Mountains (Great Mountains), which are considered the historical center of the Kazakh people. Numerous sites of primitive people, Paleolithic and Bronze Age monuments, the remains of settlements of nomadic tribes: the Huns, ancient Turks and Oguz-Kipchaks were discovered here. The Ulytau mountains were the gathering place of the Tatar-Mongolian troops, from here such famous descendants of Genghis Khan as Zhoshy Khan, the khans Batu and Tokhtamysh and the emirs Edyge and Tamerlane made their campaigns.
Excursions are organized from Karaganda to the south-east of the region to the city of Aksu-Ayuly. There is a specialized farm for growing and training birds of prey – golden eagles and falcons, where tourists are invited to watch the traditional hunting with birds of prey.
Kokshetau, Akmola region (Kazakhstan)
Kokshetau is the administrative center of the Akmola region. The city is located in the northern part of Kazakhstan, about 200 km north of Astana.
East of Kokshetau in 2000, on an area of 83.5 thousand hectares, the State National Natural Park “Burabay” was created. There are 14 lakes here, including Lake Borovoye, which is a resort of national importance. The surface area of the lake is 1002 hectares, it is surrounded by picturesque mountains covered with forests and steppes. For its landscape, this region is called “Kazakh Switzerland”. Hotels, sanatoriums and rest houses were built on the shores of Lake Borovoe. The tourist center of the region is the city of Borovoe, here, in addition to hotels restaurants, cafes, bars and discos, boat rentals, catamarans and fishing equipment are open. It is worth remembering that tourists who want to go fishing need to issue a special waybill, the catch should not exceed 5 kg, and one person is allowed to use no more than five hooks. The most popular place to relax on Lake Borovoe is Blue Bay, along which sandy beaches stretch. In summer, the water in the lake warms up to +18 degrees. The mild mountain climate, clean air and the presence of healing mud make it possible to treat diseases of the respiratory, nervous system and circulatory organs here. In addition, from the city of Borovoye you can go on an excursion to the Burabay National Park. In the local forests you can see a wolf, lynx, deer, elk, wild boar, roe deer, squirrel, ermine, weasel, 60 km southwest of Kokshetau is the State National Natural Park “Kokshetau”. The park was established in 1996. It covers an area of 182 thousand hectares. Mountain-forest and steppe communities, as well as the natural world of lakes Zerenda, Shalkar, Imantau and Saumalkol are protected on the territory of the park. Moose, deer, wild boars, wolves are found in the forests, and such valuable species of fish as ripus and whitefish live in lakes. There are many hiking and horse trails in the park, there are opportunities for accommodation in traditional Kazakh villages.
Kostanay, Kostanay region (Kazakhstan)
Kostanay is the center of the Kostanay region, located in the northern part of Kazakhstan. The city was founded by Russian and Ukrainian settlers on the left bank of the Tobol River in 1879. At the beginning of the 20th century, Kostanay was a major trade center between Asia and Russia, fairs were constantly held here. During the “development of virgin lands” the city expanded significantly. Sanatorium “Sosnovy Bor” is located 45 km from Kostanay. The sanatorium operates on the basis of local sources of sulfate-chloride-sodium mineral waters, similar in composition to the waters of the Pyatigorsky, Essentuki 17 and Karlovy Vary springs, and sulfide-silt mud. It treats diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, lung diseases, ear, nose and throat diseases, diseases of the genitourinary system, gynecological diseases, skin diseases and metabolic disorders. The following types of treatment are used in the sanatorium: hydrotherapy, mud therapy, physiotherapy and climate therapy. On the territory of the sanatorium there is also a children’s health camp, a sports complex, swimming pools and tennis courts.
190 km south of Kostanay on an area of 191, Naurzum State Nature Reserve. One of the main attractions of the reserve is the relic Naurzum pine forest, which has been preserved in a little changed form since the Tertiary period. Another attraction of the park is the system of fresh lakes Aksuat and fresh and salt lakes Sarymoin. During the years of filling, these lakes are an area of mass nesting of waterfowl and wetland birds. Of the rare birds in the reserve, there are white cranes, pink and curly pelicans. In addition, 10 species of fish are found in the local lakes: golden and silver carp, lake minnow, tench, perch, pike, roach, carp, dace and peled.
