Almaty
Almaty is the most populous city in Kazakhstan, with more than two million residents. It is in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in southern Kazakhstan, near the border with Kyrgyzstan, at an elevation of 700–900 metres, with the Big Almaty and Small Almaty rivers running through it. Almaty is the second-largest city in Central Asia (after Tashkent, Uzbekistan).
Typical weather
1981–presentCity Rhythm
measuredOpening hours, by kind of place
median across mapped venuesVital absurdities
measured · the Anti-AwardsSame time system
by rhythmWhat to do each season
2winter
cold, occasionally severe; mean −0.6 to 18.8 °C across the range; January mean min −4.3 °C; frosts frequent; the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains behind the city accumulate snow
- indoor cultural season: the Abai Kazakh State Opera and Ballet Theatre (founded 1934), the Central State Museum, the A. Kasteyev Museum of Arts
- the Shymbulak ski resort (in the Trans-Ili Alatau above the city) opens — cable car from Medeu
- the banya (sauna-and-bath-house) economy activates — ~30 saunas across the city for relaxation in the 'miserable cold months'
- the Green Bazaar (Zelyony Bazaar) carries year-round visitor life but at winter density
summer
hot, occasionally thundery (mountain-valley circulation); mean 19.6-27.1 °C, July mean max 34.1 °C; the Trans-Ili Alatau snowmelt feeds the Big and Small Almaty rivers through the city
- the Panfilov Street esplanade, the Ascension Cathedral (Russian Orthodox, 1907, entirely wooden) and the Central State Museum activate
- the Medeu high-mountain skating rink and the Shymbulak resort at full summer-hiking use
- Nauryz Meiramy (the Kazakh New Year, around 22 March, but celebratory period extends into spring-summer) — the city's largest civic festival
- the Arasan baths (Tulebaev 78, open daily 07:00-22:30) at peak use
What it is known for
Important moments in a year
Nauryz Meiramy
- the city's largest civic festival — Kazakh music, food, traditional games
Almaty Marathon
- the city's largest running event
Almaty Jazz Festival
- the city's leading jazz festival
On the record
source-trackedAlmaty was, in 2020, considered to be "Kazakhstan's cultural capital", as contemporary Almaty has a more European character due to more cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating and public green space.
Almaty is the historical capital of intellectualism in Kazakhstan as a product of Almaty's location along the Silk Road, and because many Russian intellectuals were exiled to the region.
Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to 1991 (during the Soviet era) and after independence from 1991 until the capital was moved to Akmola (now Astana) in 1997.
Almaty has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa) with hot summers and cold winters. It is characterized by the influence of mountain–valley circulation.
Annual average air temperature is equal to 10 °C (50 °F), the coldest month is January, −4.7 °C (24 °F) (on average), the warmest month (July) 23.8 °C (75 °F) (on average).
Almaty generates approximately 20% of Kazakhstan's GDP (or $36 billion in 2010). The city accounts for about 20% of government revenues and 60% of bank credits.
The Silk Road touched the foothills upon which Almaty sits today, it left little of the grandeur found farther south in Central Asia's great caravan cities.
The few inhabitants were nomadic herdsmen, with no substantial towns until the Russians colonised and built a wooden fort in 1854.
The Soviets renamed it Alma-Ata ("Alma" may mean "apple" — modern apples originated in this region) and the city became the capital of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.
Trotsky lived in exile here for a year before fleeing to Turkey.
Saunas or banyas are where folk relax and socialise during the miserable cold months.
The Metro has a single line. The Metro is open from 06:00-00:00, and is safe and guarded by police at all times. A single trip costs 120 tenge.
The method behind this atlas — 196 pp. Not published yet.