Kazakhstan

Steppe and Mountains

Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country on Earth, and most of it is flat grassland and desert. Only in the southeast does the land rise into the northern ranges of the Tian Shan, in the region known as Zhetysu, the land of seven rivers.

Almaty Under the Peaks

Almaty, the largest city and the capital until 1997, lies at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau, whose highest summit, Talgar, reaches about 4,979 metres. The camera's panorama frames the wall of mountains above the city. A short drive up the valley leads to the high-altitude skating rink of Medeu and the ski slopes of Shymbulak.

Clear Days and Winter Smog

Summers are hot and sunny, and on clear days the peaks look close enough to touch. In winter, cold air settles in the basin under a lid of warmer air, trapping smoke and haze over the city while the mountains above stand in bright sunshine.