Everything about Almaty totally explained
which represents 8% of the population of the country. It was the capital of Kazakhstan (and its predecessor, the
Kazakh SSR) from 1929 to 1998. Despite losing its status as the capital, Almaty remains the major commercial center of Kazakhstan.
Name
The name "Almaty" means "rich with
apple"; the older
Soviet-era Russian version of its name, Alma-Ata, originates from a mistake (literally means "Grandfather-apple"). In the surrounding region, there's a great
genetic diversity among the wild apples; the region is in fact in the ancestral home of the apple, and the wild
Malus sieversii, now considered to be a likely candidate for the ancestor of the modern domestic apple, originates from the area around Almaty. Coincidentally, the world's largest apple (close to watermelon size) is also located in Almaty, but unfortunately "Apport" became a part of history.
Demographics
Ethnic groups (2003):
According to the USSR Census of 1989, population of Almaty was 1,071,900; Kazakhstan Census of 1999 reported 1,129,400.
History
Prehistoric Almaty
During 10-9
B.C. in the
Bronze Age the first farmers and cattle-breeders established settlements on the territory of Almaty.
During the
Saka’s period (from 7 B.C. to the beginning of the
Common Era), Almaty was chosen for residence by
Saka tribes and later
Uisun tribes inhabiting the territory north of the
Tian Shan mountain range. The evidences of these times are numerous burial
tumuli and ancient settlements, especially giant burial mounds of Saka tsars. The most famous archaeological finds are the Golden man from the
Issyk Kurgan, Zhalauly treasure, Kargaly diadem,
Zhetysu arts bronze (boilers, lamps and alters). During the period of Saka and uisun governance, Almaty became the early education center.
Middle Ages
The next stage of Almaty evolution is attributed to the
Middle Ages (
8th –
10th centuries) and characterized by the city culture development, transfer to the settled way of living, farming and handicraft development, emerging a number of towns and cities on the territory of
Zhetysu.
In
10th –
14th centuries, settlements situated on the territory of the so called "Big Almaty became the part of trade routes of the
Silk Road. At that time, Almaty became one of the trade, craft and agricultural centers on the
Silk Road and possessed an official
mint. The city was first mentioned as
Almatu in old books in the 13th century.
15th - 18th centuries
In
15th -
18th centuries, the city was on the way to degradation as trade activities were condensing on this part of the
Silk Road. Notwithstanding, this period was saturated with very important political events that had significant impact on the history of Almaty and Kazakhstan as a whole. It was a period of crucial ethnic and political transformations. The
Kazakh state and nation were founded here, close to Almaty.
These lands also witnessed the tragic developments related to the
Dzungar intervention and rigorous efforts of the
Kazakh to protect their land and preserve independence. In
1730 the Kazakh defeated the Dzungar in the Anyrakay mountains, 70 km to
north-west from Almaty. It was a critical moment of the Patriotic War between Kazakhs and Dzungars.
Foundation of Verniy
On
4 February 1854 the new history of the city started from strengthening the Russian piedmont
Fort Verniy nearby the Zailiysky Alatau mountain range between Bolshaya and Malaya Almatinka rivers. The construction of the Verniy Fort was almost finished by autumn 1854. It was a fenced pentagon and one of its sides was built along the Malaya Almatinka. Later, wood fence was replaced with the wall of brick with embrasures. Main facilities were erected around the big square for training and parading.
In
1855 the first displaced Kazakh appeared in Verniy. Since
1856, Verniy started accepting Russian peasants. They founded the Bolshaya Almatinskaya Stanitsa (
Cossack village) nearby the fortification. The inflow of migrants was increasing and led to construction of the Malaya Almatinskaya
Stanitsa and Tatarskaya (Tashkentskaya)
sloboda. It was the place of settlement for
Tatar mechants and craftsmen.
In
1867 the Verniy Fort was transformed into the town and called
Almatinsk. However, the population didn't like the new name of the town and soon the town was re-named as Verniy.
According to the First City Plan, the city parameters were 2 km on the south along Almatinka river, and 3 km on the west. The new city area was divided into residential parts, and the latter – into districts. Three categories of the city buildings were distinguished. Buildings of the first and second categories were two-storied or, at least, one-storied constructions with the high semi-basement. Buildings of categories I and II were erected around and in the center of the city, others – on the
outskirts.
On
28 May 1887 at 4
a.m. the
earthquake almost totally destroyed Verniy in 11-12 minutes. Brick buildings were mostly damaged. The earthquake deteriorated the image of the city. As a result, people were inclined to build up one-storied construction made of wood or adobe.
20th century Almaty
Almaty from the Revolution of 1917 to World War II
In
1921, the joint solemn sitting was summoned for the participation of the representative of government regional and sub-regional institutions, professional trades, the
Muslim people to make a decision to assign a new name to Verniy –
Alma-Ata.
In
1926, the Council of Labour and Defence approved the construction of the
Turkestan-Siberia Railway railway that was a crucial element of the republic reconstruction, specifically on the east and southeast of the republic. The
Turkestan-Siberia Railway construction was also a decisive economic aspect that foreordained the destiny of Alma-Ata as a
capital of
Kazakh ASSR. In
1930 the construction of the highway and railway to the Alma-Ata station was completed.
On
2 March 1927, It was the initiative of the Central Executive Committee of the Kazakh Republic to transfer the
capital from
Kyzyl-Orda to Alma-Ata. The VI Kazakhstani Congress approved this initiative.
On
29 April 1927, it was officially decided on the sitting of the
RSFSR Committee to transfer the capital of the
Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from
Kyzyl-Orda to Alma-Ata.
Besides, the Alma-Ata airport was opened in
1930 and people from the capital of Kazakhstan could fly now from Alma-Ata to
Moscow. Alma-Ata became the air gate to Kazakhstan. Transformation of the small town into the capital of the Republic was supplied by the large-scaled construction of new administrative and government facilities and housing.
Given the transfer of the capital of Kazakhstan to Alma-Ata, in
1936 the Architecture and Planning Bureau elaborated the General Plan aimed at re-creating Alma-Ata as the new cultural and comfortable capital of Kazakhstan. The Plan was based on the existing rectangular system of districts that would further be strengthened and reconstructed.
Almaty in World War II
During the
World War II the city territory was changed to a large extent. To organize the home front and concentrate industrial and material resources, the residential stock was compressed to arrange accommodation for 26,000 persons evacuated. Alma-Ata hosted over 30 industrial facilities from the front areas, 8 evacuated hospitals, 15 institutes, universities and technical schools, around 20 cultural institutions, etc.
Motion picture production companies from
Leningrad,
Kiev and
Moscow were also evacuated to Alma-Ata.
Owing to self-denying labour, over 52,000 Alma-Ata residents were awarded. 48 residents were granted with the title of the
Soviet Union Hero. Three
rifle divisions were raised in Alma-Ata, including the well-known 8th
Panfilov’s division, along with 2
rifle battalions and 3
aviation regiments that were raised on the basis of the air club of Alma-Ata.
Almaty from 1945 to 2000
From
1966 to
1971, 1,400,000 square meters of
public and
cooperative housing were put into operation. Annually, around 300,000 square meters of dwellings were under construction. It was the period of constructing
earthquake-proof multi-storied buildings. Construction unification and type-design practice diversified architectural forms. At that time were constructed lots of schools, hospitals, cultural and entertainment facilities, including the Lenin’s Palace,
Kazakhstan Hotel, sport complex “
Medeo”, etc.
Since
1981, the
underground Almaty Metro construction project has been developed.
On
16 December 1986 Jeltoksan riot took place in response to
General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of
Dinmukhamed Kunayev.
In
1993 the government made a decision to rename Alma-Ata. The new name of the city is
Almaty.
In
1997 the
President of the
Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev approved the Decree to transfer the
capital from Almaty to
Astana.
On
1 July 1998 was passed the
Law concerning the special status of Almaty as a scientific, cultural, historical, financial and industrial center.
21st century Almaty
The new 2030 General Plan of Almaty was developed in
1998 and aims at forming ecologically safe, secure and socially comfortable living conditions. The main objective is to promote Almaty’s image as a garden-city. One of the components of the General Plan is to continue
multi-storied and individual construction, reorganize industrial territories, improve
transport infrastructure and launch
Almaty Metro.
Almaty Financial Centre
Almaty is also developing as the regional financial and business centre -
RFCA.
Sights
Kök Töbe
An
aerial tramway line connects downtown Almaty with a popular recreation area the top of
Kök Töbe (which means 'Green Hill'), a mountain just to the southeast. The city television tower,
Alma-Ata Tower, is located on the hill, as well as a variety of amusement-park type attractions and touristy restaurants.
Fountains
According to the city's Department of Natural Resources and Resource Use Management, as of 2007 the city has 125 fountain groups or isolated fountains. Among them is the "Oriental Calendar" Fountain, whose 12 sculpture figures represent the 12 animals of the Kazakh 12-year animal cycle (similar to
its Chinese counterpart).
Universities of Almaty
Almaty Institute of Power Engineering and Telecommunications
Kazakh-British Technical University
Kazakh National Technical University (KazNTU)
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazUU)
Suleyman Demirel University (SDU)
Kimep (Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics, and Strategic Research)
Kazakh-American University (KAU)
Kazakh Academy of Sciences
Almaty State University (named after Abay)
Turan University
Kazakhstan University of Global Relationships and Languages (КазУМОиМЯ)
Central Asian University (ЦАУ)
for further details: List of universities in Kazakhstan
Olympic aspirations
Almaty was an official candidate to host the XXII Olympic Winter Games, but was eliminated from consideration after it failed to be included in the "short list" of candidate cities. Almaty won its bid to host the 2011 Winter Asian Games.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Almaty'.
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