The Saiga antelope | Kazakhstan

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The Saiga antelope is a critically endangered antelope which during antiquity inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe. Today this species is only found in one region in Russia and three areas in Kazakhstan.

Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 200,000 ha Central Asian steppe areas included in the property provide a valuable refuge for over half the species of the region’s steppe flora, a number of threatened bird species and the critically endangered Saiga antelope.

Flags of the World | Kazakhstan

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The national flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan has a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky blue background.
The Flag of Kazakhstan was adopted in 1992.

Baikonur Cosmodrome | Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan isn't known for its space program. So why does the country have a large space facility known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome?

For most of its existence, the Kazakh cosmodrome was a secret site whose location was unknown in the West. It was built at the height of the Cold War in the 1950s, when Russia was part of the Soviet Union and the Space Age was just starting.

But with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, everything changed. Today, the Russians lease the Baikonur Cosmodrome from Kazakhstan. To support Russia while benefiting from its space station, NASA agreed to a shuttle-Mir program, which paid Russia to host American astronauts on the Mir space station.

Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan

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Saryarka is an important site for migratory water birds in northern Kazakhstan because of its wetlands. It also is the habitat of the Saiga antelope and the Siberian white crane. Both are critically endangered.

Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you see another postcard depicting this site.

Western Tien-Shan | Kazakhstan

 

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The Tien-Shan mountain system is one of the largest mountain ranges in the world. It spans over three countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Western Tien-Shan is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Western Tien-Shan is incredibly biodiverse and showcases a wide array of landscapes, ecosystems, fauna and flora. It is home to a considerable number of endemic species and communities, as well as a large number of wild, rare and threatened species.

Saryarka | Kazakhstan

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Saryarka is an important site for migratory water birds in northern Kazakhstan because of its wetlands. It also is the habitat of the Saiga antelope and the Siberian white crane. Both are critically endangered.

Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mountainous Kazakhstan

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Belukha is a three-peaked mountain massif that rises along the border of Russia and Kazakhstan. This massif is located in the heart of the Altai.

The Altai mountains occupy an area that stretches 1,000 km from east to west and nearly 500 km from north to south. This area straddles four countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia.

Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi | Kazakhstan

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The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, situated in southern Kazakhstan, was built at the time of Timur, from 1389 to 1405. It is one of the largest and best-preserved constructions of the Timurid period.

Timur (or Tamerlane) was a Turco-Mongol conqueror and the founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia. Here you see apostcard of his statue.  

Tamgaly Petroglyphs | Kazakhstan

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Towards the western end of the Tienshan Mountains in the southeast of Kazakhstan, the Chu-Ili mountain spur forms a canyon around the Tamgaly Gorge. The Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly features a remarkable concentration of some 5,000 (!) petroglyphs, associated settlements and burial grounds. All dating back as far as the Bronze Age.

Stamps

A stamp to celebrate 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Mikhail Lermontov, the ‘poet of the Caucasus’. He was a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter.

On the right a stamp to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).  CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance between six post-Soviet states: Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Nur-Astana Mosque | Kazakhstan

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The Nur-Astana Mosque is a mosque located in the Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. It is third largest mosque in Central Asia. It has a capacity of 5,000 worshippers. 

Kazakh eagle hunting

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The ancient art of eagle hunting is a traditional form of falconry practiced by Kazakh and Kyrgyz people in contemporary Kazakhstan. 

Eagle hunting was mainly practiced in the northern regions of Kazakhstan, while in the south hunters preferred to use hawks and falcons. Each bird was intended to hunt a particular type of animal.

Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan

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Astana, meaning Capital in Kazakh language, is the capital and the second largest city of Kazakhstan. But only 15 years ago the city didn't really exist at all. In 1997 Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev moved the capital from Almaty to Astana.

Today the science fiction-like skyline has started to earn the country international recognition. On the right of the postcard you see the most famous landmark in Astana, the 105m tall Bayterek tower.

Lake Kulsai from Kazakhstan

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The Kolsai Lakes are three blue mountain lakes, known as the ‘pearls of the northern Tien-Shan’, that lie within the ridges of the Kungei Alatau range at heights of up to 2700m (8858ft) above sea level.

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(left) 100th anniversary of Mukhamedzhan Karatayev, writer, specialist in study of literature, academician of the science Academy.

(right) Coat of arms of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

Алматы | Kazakhstan

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Almaty (Алматы) is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city.

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(left) 125th anniversary of the poet, writer Mirzhakyp Dulatov.

(upper right) Coat of arms of the city Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

(down right) Coat of arms of the city Şımkent.

A river from Kazakhstan

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The longest river in Kazakhstan: Irtysh. Its length within the country is 1700 miles, total length is 4,248 km.

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15 years CICA: Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.