According to ehealthfacts, Kazakhstan is a country in Central Asia and, to a small extent, in Eastern Europe. The country has (2018) 18.3 million residents; The capital is Nursultan.
Western Tian Shan (World Heritage)
The Tian Shan is a mighty floe mountain in Central Asia. The numerous, parallel mountain ranges extend for around 2500 kilometers between the sandy Kysylkum desert in the west and the Gobi desert in the east. In 2013, several areas in the eastern part of the Chinese province of Xinjiang were declared a World Heritage Site. The protected areas in western Tian Shan awarded in 2016 are in the countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
The Western Tian Shan: Facts
| Official title: | Western Tian Shan Mountains |
| Natural monument: | the cross-border protected area is one of the most species-rich ecosystems in the world; it comprises 13 sub-areas with over 500,000 hectares in seven protected areas: Karatau and Aqsu-Jabagly nature reserves and Sairam-Ugam National Park in Kazakhstan; Besh-Aral and Padyscha-Ata nature reserves and Sary-Tschelek biosphere reserve in Kyrgyzstan; Chatkal Biosphere Reserve in Uzbekistan |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan |
| Location: | in the south of Kazakhstan, in the east and south-east of Uzbekistan and large parts of Kyrgyzstan |
| Appointment: | 2016 |
| Meaning: | diverse mountain landscapes with extraordinary biodiversity |
The “Himmelsgebirge”
The cross-border mountain system is a very old mountainous region and is mainly made up of rocks from the ancient world. It has only recently received its present form. As a result of the plate collision between India and Eurasia (Alpidic orogeny), the main ridges were raised like a chain and partially broken. A clearly noticeable sign of this constant movement are the frequent earthquakes in this region. At 7,439 meters above sea level, the highest point is the glaciated Pik Pobedy in the Kokshaaltau chain on the border between Kyrgyzstan and China.
Flora and fauna worth protecting
In the west, the mountain system of the western Tian Shan is divided up like a fan. The diversity of the landscape is characterized by meadows, wetlands, mountain steppes and high mountain meadows, glaciers and high peaks. It is home to rare and endangered species. The most prominent representatives include the Tien Shan brown bear, the snow leopard and the Menzbier marmot, which is only found in western Tian Shan. In addition to extensive spruce and juniper forests, there are also natural wild fruit forests in the region with the last stocks of the Asian wild apple. The wild tulip, a forerunner of the popular ornamental plant, also has its natural habitat here.
Tamgaly Petroglyphs (World Heritage)
The world heritage site includes around 50 archaeological complexes in the mountainous region of Tamgaly with around 5,000 rock carvings from the time of 500 BC. Until the beginning of the 20th century. They show, among other things, images of sun-headed beings, chariots and animals. The excavation site also includes settlement and burial sites.
Tamgaly Petroglyphs: Facts
| Official title: | Petroglyphs from the Tamgaly archaeological site |
| Cultural monument: | About 5,000 prehistoric rock carvings from the second half of the second century BC Until the beginning of the 20th century; structured 48 complexes with settlements and tombs; Sun temple with images of sun-headed beings, chariots and animals from the Bronze Age as well as human and animal figures from the time of the early nomads; also remains of settlement and burial sites |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Kazakhstan |
| Location: | 170 km northwest of Almaty |
| Appointment: | 2004 |
| Meaning: | Remarkable concentration of petroglyphs; Testimony of the life of the pastoral peoples from the Bronze Age to the present day |
Mausoleum of Choja Achmed Jasawi (World Heritage)
The tomb of Choja Achmed Jasawi was built between 1389 and 1405 in the city of Yasi, today’s Turkistan. The tomb was never fully completed, but it is one of the best-preserved structures from the Timur period and exerted a great influence on the development of Islamic architecture.
Mausoleum of Choja Akhmed Jasawi: facts
| Official title: | Mausoleum of Choja Akhmed Jasawi |
| Cultural monument: | Tomb of Choja Akhmed Jasawi; Erected between 1389 and 1405; partly unfinished, nevertheless one of the largest and best preserved buildings from the time of the Mongol ruler Timur Lenk |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Kazakhstan |
| Location: | City of Yasi, today Turkestan |
| Appointment: | 2003 |
| Meaning: | Exceptional architectural testimony from the Timur period with a great influence on the development of Islamic architecture |
