Almaty

Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city, in the country’s southeast near the Tian Shan mountains. It was the capital of Kazakhstan from independence in 1991 until the capital moved to Astana in 1997.

Verny: Verny was the Russian imperial and early Soviet name of the city now called Almaty. The settlement was founded as a Russian fort in 1854 under this name.
Medeu: A high-altitude outdoor speed-skating rink in a mountain valley near Almaty. The rink is a prominent sports and recreation destination just outside the city.
Ile-Alatau National Park: A protected area of the northern Tian Shan mountains south of Almaty. The park borders the city and preserves its nearby alpine landscapes.
1887 Verny earthquake: A destructive earthquake that struck Verny, now Almaty, in 1887. Its damage prompted major changes to construction and settlement in the city.
Russian conquest of Central Asia: The Russian Empire’s nineteenth-century expansion that brought Central Asian territories under imperial rule. Russian forces established Verny amid the empire’s advance into the region.
Shymbulak: A ski resort in the Ile-Alatau mountains above Almaty. Its slopes make the nearby mountains accessible for skiing and other recreation.
Tian Shan: A major mountain system of Central Asia extending across several countries. The range rises immediately south of Almaty and shapes its landscape.
1911 Kebin earthquake: A major earthquake in the northern Tian Shan that devastated Verny in 1911. The disaster destroyed much of the city and tested its earthquake-resistant buildings.
Semirechye: A historical region of Central Asia encompassing parts of present-day southeastern Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. Verny became a major administrative center in this imperial region.
Kazakh National University: Kazakhstan’s principal public research university, based in Almaty. Its campus anchors the city’s role as a national center for higher education.

Linked from 8 pages