Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, stretching from China to the Caspian Sea and encompassing a diverse population of 15 million people. It has a mountainous eastern region containing forests, lakes, and glaciers, which gives way to vast steppes and deserts in the western part of the country. Nomadic peoples inhabited Central Asia for millennia, and the Kazakh ethnicity emerged in the 15th century, coming under Russian rule by the mid-19th century when Almaty was established. Uzbekistan, located in the heart of Central Asia, was historically a key hub on the Silk Road and home to powerful cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva that were important

1. Interesting Facts About Central Asia
Almaty package - Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country in the world, equal in size to
the whole of Western Europe, a huge land encompassing two time zones, stretching
from China to the Caspian Sea. It has an ethnically mixed population of 15 million
people including Kazakhs, Russians, Ukranians, Uzbeks and others. Kazakhstan is
potentially the richest of all the Central Asian countries with huge mineral and oil
reserves.
The Eastern part of Kazakhstan and the area around Almaty is extremely mountainous,
with beautiful alpine scenery, densely forested valleys, multi colored lakes and pristine
glaciers. Travelling to the west in Kazakhstan the mountains give way to the vast
steppes and also the desert for more information visit: http://www.welovealmaty.com/
Nomadic people have inhabited the vast steppes of Central Asia for many thousands of
years but the Kazakh, a Turkic people, distantly related to Genghis Khan's hordes,
emerged as a distinct nationality in the 15th century. By the 17th century the Russians
had arrived and in 1640, Guriyev (now Atyrau) became part of the Russian Empire. By
1848 all of Kazakhstan was under Russian rule and in 1854 the Russians established a
fort called Verny, which later became Almaty. Kazakhstan became one of the
constituent republics of the Soviet Union until 1991 when it gained its independence.
Uzbekistan is located at the very heart of Central Asia and in ancient times was a key
link on the Silk Road connecting China with Western Europe. The legendary cities of
Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva were powerful states, important trade centres where
architecture and the arts were highly developed.
Uzbekistan's golden age was under Tamerlaine in the 14th century AD. Ruling an
empire stretching from Turkey to China, he made Samarkand his capital and left a
breathtaking architectural legacy including mosques, madrassahs and majestic Registan
Square.
Today, the old atmosphere of the Silk Road still survives in the oriental bazaars and tea
houses where the many nationalities of Central Asia gather together wearing their
traditional and colourful clothes.