In the late 19th century the first bishops of the Turkistan eparchy discussed the need for a Russian Orthodox Church in Almaty. On September 26, 1903 the bishop of Turkistan and Tashkent, Paisij (Vinogradov) consecrated the foundation of the church. Construction lated between 1904 and 1907. The belfry was erected on September 14, 1906. The cathedral survived the 1910 earthquake with minimal damage.

The inner structure of cathedral was made in the artistic workshops of Moscow and Kiev. The iconostasis was painted by N. Khludov. After the Russian Revolution the cathedral was used to house the Central State Museum of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. From 1930 to 1940 it was used by important public organizations. The first radio transmitters in Almaty were situated in the cathedral's belfry.

Restoration work on the cathedral began in 1973 and lasted until 1976. In May 1995 control of the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and after additional restoration work it was reopened for religious services in 1997.

The Medeu, outdoor speed skating rink is one of the most famous ice rinks in the world. It is located in a mountain valley (Medeu Valley, or the valley of Malaya Alma-Atinka River) on the south-eastern outskirts of Almaty, Kazakhstan. It sits 1,691 metres above sea level and utilizes a sophisticated freezing and watering system to ensure the quality of the ice.

The Medeu Dam, built in the late 1960s, stands immediately south of the skating rink, protecting it - and the city of Almaty itself - from potentially devastating mud flows. Viewpoints on top of the dam provide great views of the stadium. Medeu has seen many world records in all the speed skating distances from 1951 through the 1980s: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, 5000 m and the 10000 m. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the costs to uphold the arena as a top speed skating rink have proved too costly for the independent Republic of Kazakhstan. The last great championship event on this ice rink was held in 1988 -- the Men's World Speed Skating Championship -- which was won by the American skater Eric Flaim.

In the early 2000s, Medeo's future status as a competition rink is uncertain. However, it was proposed as the speed skating venue both for Almaty's unsuccessful bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and the successful one for 2011 Asian Winter Games. Kazakhstan government plans to renovate the facility in time for the 2011 games.

The rink has also been used as the general venue for the Voice of Asia music festival since the birth of the festival

The special Medeo mad protection structure is located near the skating ring. The dam construction began in 1964, according to the measures under the complex Almaty mad protection. The dam height is 150m, length – 530m, width under the base – 800m. According to calculations, it can stand for the flow of 10 million m3.

Tamgaly – is translated, as “drawings” from the Kazakh language. Occasionally, a unique place with petroglyphs of unknown civilization was found in the Tamgaly Canyon in the late 50-s. It was hidden in the Anrakhai Mountains 170 km to the North-West from Almaty. The petroglyphs gallery was hollowed three and a half thousand years ago. The mysterious civilization, lived there, disappeared, having left over 4000 drawings to us. Our mysterious ancestors showed their whole way of life and world outlook in drawings on stones. It is a true ancient art gallery, pictures of which describe both individual animals and people and the whole scenes from the ancient people’s life. The wide and smooth rock surfaces have been covered with “the desert sunburn” during many centuries, having become an ideal background of that unique gallery; not one generation of the ancient masters-artists worked on it. During centuries the Tamgaly Canyon rocks and the narrow valley preserved meaning of sanctuary - i.e. places, where the ritual ceremonies were performed, magic rites, worship to gods and ancestors’ spirit were provided - for different peoples, left their trace in the history of Kazakhstan. The burial grounds of the Bronze Epoch (the XI-X centuries B.C.) and earlier nomads (the III century B.C. and the II century of our era) and their settlements are there near the canyon. Drawings of currently completely disappeared animals, such as the Przhevalskiy horse, kulan, cheetah, karakal, Tugainiy deer, aurochs of big constitution, tiger, short-legged bison, trubkozub, water goat, including one picture describing a Wild (“Snow”) man’s woman turned to be in Tamgaly. But separate place is devoted to the fantastic personages in the petroglyphs’ repertory, the so-called “sun-headed”. May be, they were priests, and, may be, alien guests. Only 26 drawings have been preserved up to our days. The ancient among them: figures of 40-75 centimeters, drawn in the static poses with elaborative “nimbuses”, formed by different combinations of circles, circumferences, rays and points – are remarkable for their expressiveness. Very interesting are pictures of the ritual sacrifices, initiation rites (two dancing priests with two men, let into warriors), fertility cult, shots with bows, riders on horses and aurochs and many other. All drawings were made with solid stones (quartz). Not all the Tangaly monuments have been thoroughly studied; thus many questions, concerning the history of the bewitched Tamgaly place are remained without a reply for the time being. Tribes of the Bronze Epoch were the ancient residents of Tangaly, which inhabited the Kazakhstan land in the II millennium B.C. There origin is disputable.

The Committee for the World Heritage made the decision at its 28th Session, held in the Chinese Suzhu since June 28 up to July 7, 2004- to include “Petrogluphs of the Archeological Tamgaly Landscape” into the UNESCO List of the World Heritage, according to the Kazakhstan proposal and taking into account Recommendations of the International Council of Monuments and Historic Places Protection (ICOMOS).

The Ili River (Kazakh: Іле, Ile, Chinese: Yili He) is a river in northwestern China (Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region) and southeastern Kazakhstan (the Almaty Province). It is 1,439 km (870 miles) long, 815 km of which in Kazakhstan. It takes its beginning in eastern Tian Shan from the Tekes and Kunges (or Kunes) rivers. The Ili River drains the basin between the Tian Shan the Borohoro (P'o-lo-k'o-nu) Mountains to the north.

Flowing into Lake Balkhash it forms a large delta with vast wetland regions of lakes, marshes and jungle-like vegetation

Chinese part
The upper Ili Valley is separated from the Dzungarian Basin by the Borohoro Mountains. The city of Yining (Kulja) is located on the northern side of the river some 100 km upstream from the international border. Until the early 1900s, the city was commonly known under the same name as the river (Pinyin: Yili; Wade-Giles: Ili).
On the southern side, even closer to the border, Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County is located, which is home to many of the China's Xibe people. The upper Ili was occupied by Russia from 1871 to 1881, that is, from the Yaqub Beg rebellion to the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1881).

Kazakh part
The part of Kazakhstan drained by the Ili and its tributaries is known in Kazakh as Zhetysu ('Seven Rivers') or in Russian as Semirechye (the same meaning).
The Kapchagai Hydroelectric power station was built from 1965 to 1970 in the middle flow of the Ili River, forming the Kapchagay Reservoir - a 110 km lake north of Almaty.

Tamgaly-Tas, some 20 km downstream along Ili River is a site of rock drawings. The name Tamgaly in Kazakh means painted or marked place, Tas - stone.

Altyn-Emel National Park is a national park in Kazakhstan. It was created in 1996. The park covers 90 square kilometers between the Ili River and the Ak-Tau mountain range, near Lake Kapchagai, and is comprised of mostly desert and rocky terrain. The park contains the singing sand, a large dune which is famous for the noises it produces.

The object of nomination is located on the southern macroslope Dzhungar Alatau at a height of 1000-1200 m above the sea level, almost from different directions is surrounded with mountains. Relief. The mountain relief is obliged by the origin to vault – cloded nontectonic movement ( Didenko - Kislitsina, 1981). The region is various and includes all kinds of landscapes from plains up to mountain areas. The basic part is represented by(with) mountain files reaching 1200-2500 m in height. A relief from flat slopes up to the rocks, in many cases are observed deeply cut slopes (mountain Chulak, Koktay, Aktay, Matay, Degeres). The foothills are submitted by various types of steppe. On flat sites are observed knobby and khobby – ridge sand combined with extensive between ridge meadow downturn and takur plains.

Ground. On the territory of the object all patrimonial spectrum of mountain groud is submitted. A picture of a soil cover, in connection with mountain areas very motley. On plains prevail grey ground, meet salt marsh. Hydromorhe ground meet only in watered sites. In flood land areas are located deluval plains. Climate sharply continental. The winter period is characteristic in low temperatures and prevalence of clear weather (number of clear days for winter -24 days). Average temperature of January - 100?. The situation of the park on slopes of a southern exposition, and also receiption of dry weights of air from Ily nollow results in early arrival of spring and low quantity(amount) of average falls (200 mm). Summer is hot, the average temperatures of July reach(achieve) +200F (Atlas Kazakh SSR, 1982). The most damp month - June (29 % of the annual sum of deposits). For one year, on the average, 65 days with falls. The least quantity(amount) of falls in the winter and at the beginning of spring. The northwest winds prevail, annual repeatability have northeast (4 %) and southwest winds. The greatest speed of a wind - 4,8 m/s, least - 1,6 m/s.

Fauna. The originality of territory of the National park promotes prosperity of as highly specific landscapes, adapted to conditions, as kinds of large ecological valency. Ichtiofauna is submitted by 28 kinds of fishes (22,1 % Ichtiofauna of Kazakhstan), concerning to to five groups, from them 12 aboriginal kinds (Dukravech, 1986). Aboriginal Ichtiofauna differs poor types by structure and brightly expressed endomism. Ily marinka (Schizotyorax), balchash the perch (Perca schrenki), thorn (Acipenser nudiventris) are brought in the Red book of Kazakhstan. The first kind is on the verge of disappearance (Bekenov etc., 1988). From a class of amphibious on the in territory of the park there are 4 kinds from the family of tailless (green (Bufo viridis) and danatin toad (Bufo danatensis) lake frog and Siberian (Rana ridibunda, R. sibiricus). Danatin toad and Siberian frog are brought in the red book of Kazakhstan. According to the number of kinds reptiles of the region they make 51 % from all gerpetofaund of Kazakhstan (25 kinds), of them 16 kinds of the snakes, 8 kinds of the lizards and 1 kind a turtle. In the Red book one kind motley kruglogolovka (Phrynocephalus versicolor) is brought. A variety ornitofauna here is submitted by 155 kinds of birds, that makes 39,8 % from all nested ornitofauna of Kazakhstan, from which 40 kinds are brought in the Red book of Kazakhstan (result last reexamination by the employees of the institute of Zoology and genefund together with the scientific employees of university of the state of Arizona (USA). Teriofauna of the park is submitted by 70 kinds of mammals. Dzheiran(Gazella subgutturoza), wild ram (Ovis ammon), turkmen kulan(Equus himionus) (makes 60 % all total number of a kind in Republic) are brought in Red book of Kazakhstan. In the Red book such kinds of region as stone marten (Martes foina), bandaging (Vormela peregusna), river otter (Lutra lutra) also are brought. From vertebralless animals on the territory of the park live numerous as well as rare kinds. In the Red book 32 kinds concerning 8 groups are brought: a dragonfly, devouts, straight winged, hard winged, membraneus winged, double winged, scaly winged.

Flora. On the territory of the park there are 634 kinds of plants. A significant variety of landscapes causes types of riches of flora. The most widespread representatives are juniper (Juniperus sabina), outmeal (Featula), fire nonawned (Bromopsis inermis).

Artemisia. 41 kinds are rare and is on the verge of disappearance. It is such kinds, as Ilyinya Regelya (Iljinia regeliis), onions(bow) milkcoloured (Allium galantum), feather-grass Caucasian (Stipa kaucasica), honeysuckle (Lonicerta), poplar diverleave (Populus divergifolia), vodosbor Vilalya (Aquilegia vilalii), tian-shan cherry (Cerasus tianschanica), Ily saxaul and Balchash (Arthrophytum iliensis, A. balchaschiensis). Here appear 27 kinds endemics, are available relicts of the form, for example, Ily ferula (Ferula ilinensis). History and development The state national natural park "Altyn-Emel" was created by the governmental order of Republic of Kazakhstan from April 10, 1996 416 in territory of Kerbulak and Panphylov administrative areas of Almaty area. March 9, 1999 this order was is re-registered by the order of Committee of a wood, fish and hunting facilities of the Ministry of natural resources and protection of an environment of Republic of Kazakhstan. Presence of historical and cultural objects. The territory of National park abounds archeological monuments of a stone epoch, bronze, early and late iron century, ethnographic and historico-cultural monuments. They are submitted vast burying grounds (height up to 20m, diameter up to 100m) and single buryings. 191 monuments of a history and cultures are totaled. The special scientific value has is a complex of monuments Besshatyr with grandiose barows, cult fencings and numerous petroglyphs in nearby gorges of mountains Chulack. (Akyshev, 1956; 1959; Maryashev, 1998). These burial places represent huge scientific and cultural value and require protection. Categories IUCN: state national park, reserved zone – 4

Across the Ili river in the north-east from Almaty there is a strange mountain. People call it in different ways: the Singing Barhan, the Singing Mountain. It is made of light tones sand and against the background of the dark ridges of the Dzungarian Alatau — the Big and Small Kalkans — represents an extraordinary sight thanks to the color contrast. The sand mountain is 1,5 km long and 120 m high. The barhan is located in a peculiar passage between the Kalkans ridges. It has been formed as a result of wind activity bringing sand from the Ili banks and laying it in this place. In dry weather the sand runs down the barhan’s slope, and a sound appears. Gradually it increases and sounds like a streamer hooter. A similar natural phenomenon is known in other places of the globe as well: In the Arabian Desert, on the Hawaiian Islands, in America and China. For a long time the nature of sand sounding has been a mystery. In 1962 V. Arabadzhi, a physicist from Leningrad, made a series of observations of the Singing Barhan: he recorded the sand sound, measured the temperature, strength and direction of wind, determined the sand fractions. The reason of the sand sound turned out to be its movement. When walking on the sand, the sounds remind of snow crunching, quick and strong movement causes the sound like a scream. The more is a moving mass the more expressive is the sound – from week squeak to crash. The sound appears due to other conditions as well. The biggest volume falls at the middle of the day and at the temperature of about +24°. The sounds are produced only by a dry sand mass. Having climbed one of its three peaks, one can admire the Ili river and Zailiisky Alatau ridge panorama. If the mountain keeps silence impatient visitors make it sing. For this one must quickly run down the south slope where the sand is not compressed so much. The sand jets will run from under the legs, and strong buzzing will appear form the barhan’s depth. Sometimes besides sounding the barhan starts shaking. And it gives the impression of an earthquake.

The Great Canyon! No, you are not in the North America! And it is not the Colorado River!

The Charyn Canyon, in many tourists’ opinions is one of the most exotic places of rest. The unique landscape transfers you to the fairy-tale world of “The Castles Valley” and “The Witches’ Canyon”… The canyon stretches for 154 km from the North-East to the South-West along the Charyn River. It is one of the most full-flowing rivers of the Northern Tien-Shan (193 km to the East from Almaty). That surprisingly picturesque site has the variable relief and strikes with it peculiarity. The height of the steep slopes, columns and arcs reaches 150-300 meters. The Americans, visiting Charyn, are excitingly surprised about how that local landscape is similar to the famous Grand Canyon in Arizona. Million layers of the petrified red sandstone, naked as the result of continuous wind erosion, have formed the supernatural landscape. Of special beauty are the rocky precipices, colored by the sunset. The landscape variety conditions different forms of flora and fauna. Over 1500 types of plant grow there, 17 of which are in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan and 62 species of mammals, 103 types of nestling birds and 25 types of reptiles. In spite of enjoying the un- describable nature beauty, you’ll make several splendid photos and swim in the mountain river.