Top 10 Interesting Facts About Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan straddles the border between Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It used to be part of the former Soviet Union hidden to the rest of the world due to the Soviet Iron Curtain. However, after its fall, Kazakhstan gained its independence in 1991. Today, many people in the west still don’t know a lot about Kazakhstan. In fact, the country has a rich and vibrant history. Check out below to learn find out the top 10 interesting facts about Kazakhstan. Perhaps after reading it, you will want to visit it yourself.

#10: Kazakhstan’s Botai culture were the first people to domesticate horses

One of the interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that archaeological evidence shows that the Botai culture in Kazakhstan were the first people to domesticate and ride horses. The Botai domesticated horses around 5,500 years ago. Interestingly, this is about 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.^[1]Reuters – Horses first ridden – and milked – 5,500 years ago Through the use of horses, human civilization advanced much quicker because it made it a lot easier to travel and transport. In addition, horses provided an advantage in war time.

Archaeologists have three main pieces of evidence to prove this. First, they found that the leg bones of Botai domesticated horses were different than wild horses. Second, they found wear on the horses’ teeth from wearing a bridle. Third, horse milk is an extremely popular cultural drink in Kazakhstan.

#9: Kazakh Olympic Athletes and Horse Meat

Horses are extremely important to Kazakh culture even in modern times. This is best exemplified in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Here the Kazakh Olympic committee begged the London Olympic Committee to allow them to import horse meat sausages (kazy) for their athletes.^[2]BBC – Kazakh Olympians seek to bring horsemeat to London 2012 The Kazakh team consists mostly of weightlifters, wrestlers, and boxers. For them, horse meat is both a protein rich diet as well as a cultural food that helps them in their sporting events.

#8: Kazakhstan’s Navy in the Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan is the largest land locked country in the world. However, they still have a national navy and consider itself a naval nation. 100% of Kazakhstan’s navy is in the Caspian Sea (the largest lake in the world). Currently, it navy has around 13 to 15 patrol ships, but it plans to increase that number.

However, why would such a large land locked nation need a navy? The main reason is due to the Caspian Sea and the natural resources that lie underneath. Five nations (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Iran) border the Caspian Sea and each of them are vying for its natural resources. In fact, it is estimated that there are at least 48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic feet of natural gas^[3]The Diplomat – Yes, Kazakhstan Has a Navy underneath the waters of the Caspian Sea. As such, there’s a lot of tension as to who owns what in the Caspian Sea. To this day, the countries have not yet come to a complete agreement on this point. Therefore, Kazakhstan sees a navy as a necessity to protect their natural resources (the biggest source of the nation’s income).

#7: The Amazonian Legends Come From Kazakhstan

One of the most interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that they most likely came from Kazakhstan. The Greeks were the original people to tell the tales of the famous female Amazon warriors. Herodotusu, a Greek historian, first wrote about them in his recounting of when Greek soldiers had to fight them around the Black Sea.^[4]The New York Times – Ancient Graves Of Armed Women Hint at Amazons However, the tale which he recounted was in fact, only told to him. He never witnessed the Amazonian warriors himself.

The Amazonian women were especially impressive to the Greeks because in Greek society, women only stayed in the house. For the longest time, Herodotus’s accounts of the Amazons were just legends. However, recently, archaeologists studying in Kazakhstan have found physical evidence of the Amazonian women. The archaeologists found in graves women buried with bows and daggers and having bowed legs from riding horse their whole lives.

#6: Kazakhstan and the Space Race

Back in the 1950s and 60s, Kazakhstan played an important part of the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. In fact, the Soviet Union built the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world oldest and largest space facility still in use today, in Kazakhstan.^[5]Space – Baikonur Cosmodrome: Russian Launch Complex This facility has hosted many historic events in the space race including the first satellite in 1957 and the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. Originally, due to being in the middle of the Cold War, the Soviet Union chose and built the site in secret as they didn’t want the United States to know where it was. The Soviets chose the location because it was close to the railroad system, making it easy to transport equipment, such as rockets, to the launch pad.

#5: Apples came from Kazakhstan

One of the most interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that according to horticultural genetic researchers, apples in the from wild apple trees first appeared in Kazakhstan. In fact, the research shows that they first appeared 20 million years ago in Kazakhstan.^[6]BBC – Kazakhstan’s treasure trove of wildly-flavoured apples Needless to say, apples have a big cultural influence in Kazakh society. For example, Almaty, the country’s old capital, translates to “a place of apples”. Today, wild apple trees still grow all over the country. In fact, it is very common to go to a local farmer’s market and see fresh wild apples for sale.

#4: Kazakh Bride Kidnapping

Kazakhstan has the controversial wedding tradition of bride kidnapping. The Kazakhs call this tradition alyp qashu. Normally, the groom and his family and friends kidnap the soon to be wife.^[7]AKZ – Introduction to Kazakh wedding They can either do it consensually or non consensually. In non consensual bride kidnapping, the groom kidnaps the would be bride, usually by tricking them. They then take the bride to their family home where they ask her if she consents to marriage. However, the process can last for days. In consensual kidnapping, it is similar, but the wife agrees right away.

#3: Kazakhstan Is a Melting Pot of Cultures

One of the most interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that statisticians consider Kazakhstan to be one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world with more than 130 different ethnic groups living in the country.^[8]Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Ethnic Diversity Part of the reason for this is due to the Soviet regime who relocated whole populations to the country. The reasoning behind this was that if the Soviets moved an entire ethnic population to an area which was not their traditional homeland, they would be less likely to fight back. For example, in 1937, the Russians forcefully moved around 171,000 ethnic Koreans from eastern Russia, near the border of modern day Korea to Kazakhstan. In addition, Kazakhstan was one of the main gulags for the Soviet regime.

#2: Kazakhstan has had only one president in its entire history

Kazakhstan only gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. However, one of the most interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that since that time, the country has only had one president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Nazarbayev has maintained his popularity with the average Kazakh by focusing on reforming the country’s previously poor economy.^[9]BBC – Kazakhstan profile – Leaders However, he has done this at the expense of democratic reforms. In fact, his reforms have increased the amount of power that he holds.

There have been several elections  in Kazakhstan including in 1999, 2005, 2011, and 2015. However, each time, Nazarbayev has always won in an overwhelming majority of the vote. For example, in the last election cycle, he won with an astonishing 97% of the vote. In fact, international monitors say that Nazarbayev has clearly been doing many fishy things. However, this should not come as too big of a surprise. Prior to Kazakhstan’s independence, Nazarbayev was the Soviet Communist party leader of in the country. Similar to other former Soviet countries, the previous leaders just stayed in power under a nominally different form of government.

#1: Astana is Kazakhstan’s Space Age Capital City

One of the most interesting facts about Kazakhstan is that the government only established Astana as the new capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. Previously, it was only a small town in the middle of the Kazakh steppe. Previously, its greatest major note was that it had been a gulag. However, since it became the capital of Kazakhstan, the city has also quickly become one of the most futuristic looking cities in the world. The city has several sci-fi looking structures including the 150 meter tall Bayterek Tower, the 60 meter tall glass pyramid the Palace of Peace, the Reconciliation building which looks like a flower from above, and the Kazakh presidential residence made as an exact replica of the American White House.

However, this Astana is is still continuing to develop. In fact, they planning to build a 1000 foot tall artificial ski slope.^[10]mnn -In Kazakhstan, an apartment complex with a skiable roof Needless to say, Astana is really unique and has managed to blend Kazakh and western cultures.