10 Mind-blowing Facts About Kazakhstan to Inspire Your Next Adventure

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Last Updated on: 19th June 2023, 06:41 pm

After spending a week in the country, I learned so many interesting facts about Kazakhstan that I had no idea about before setting foot there.

For such a large country, its history is obscured by that of the Soviet Union and the general romanticization of the steppe.

But Kazakhstan is a fascinating country with its own unique history, and I bet there are quite a few of these facts that will blow your mind, whether you’re interested in visiting or simply curious about Kazakhstan.

Read:  25 Reasons You Need to Travel Kazakhstan ASAP

My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2023

These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.

Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing

Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viator.

Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com.

For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.

For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars.

Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.

For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon.

Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).

For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.

Kazakhstan is Big

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world by land size. Larger than number ten Algeria and only .06 million square km smaller than Argentina, Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked nation. (Source: World Atlas)

While Kazakhstan is blessed with thousands of rivers, it's the largest landlocked country in the world.
While Kazakhstan is blessed with thousands of rivers, it’s the largest landlocked country in the world.

No Ocean? No Problem!

Just because Kazakhstan doesn’t have access to the ocean, doesn’t mean they can’t have a navy! The Kazakhstan Navy was officially established in 2003 after it changed from the even less intuitive Kazakhstan Coast Guard. Their maritime interests lie primarily in the Caspian Sea, the largest inland sea in the world, which borders Kazakhstan on the southwest. Oh, the Caspian Sea is also a major source of oil, which means that the money Kazakhstan spends to defends its interests here is most likely money well spent. (Source: The Diplomat)

Kazakhstan may not have an ocean, but it's Navy watches over its interests in the Caspian Sea
Kazakhstan may not have an ocean, but its Navy watches over its interests in the Caspian Sea

Kazakhs are Young

Over fifty percent of the country is under thirty years old, while over twenty-five percent are under age fifteen. (Source: Britannica)

The children of Kazakhstan outnumber their older relatives by quite a bit.
The children of Kazakhstan outnumber their older relatives by quite a bit.

National Politics isn’t exactly Democratic

Considered one of the world’s kleptocratic autocracies, post-Soviet life has been far from a democratic dream. Since Kazakhstan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, only one man has been president of Kazakhstan, current President Nursultan Nazarbayev. He “won” his last re-election with over 98% percent of the vote. (Source: CNBC)

The Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, home to President Nursultan Nazarbayev
The Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, home to President Nursultan Nazarbayev

Kazakhstan is One of Only Four Countries to Ever Denuclearize

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan inherited over 1400 nuclear weapons from the USSR. However, they voluntarily denuclearized and handed over all of their nukes back to Russia by 1995. Only three other countries have gone through a complete denuclearization: Ukraine, Belarus, and South Africa. (Sources: The Global Observatory & the Nuclear Threat Initiative)

Though Kazakhstan played a central role in the Soviet's side of the Cold War nuclear arms race, it voluntarily handed their nukes back to Russia after the collapse of the USSR.
Though Kazakhstan played a central role in the Soviet’s side of the Cold War nuclear arms race, it voluntarily handed its nukes back to Russia after the collapse of the USSR.

Kazakhstan has 5 Unesco World Heritage Sites: 3 cultural and 2 Natural Sites

For such a large country, Kazakhstan doesn’t have the same proportion of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as other comparably sized countries. However, it is extremely proud of its current five:

The petroglyphs in the Tamgaly Gorge are one of the country's five UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The petroglyphs in the Tamgaly Gorge are one of the country’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Kazakhstan was Devastated by a Manmade Famine

During the Kazakh Famine (also known as the Goloshchekin Genocide), the Soviet Union pushed collectivization and starved the nomadic Kazakh population of food, shipping it to Russia instead. While this famine is less famous than its contemporary, the Ukrainian Famine, it took a larger percentage of the Kazakhstan population. It would take decades before native Kazakh’s would outnumber ethnic Russians. (Source: The Library of Congress)

The memorial to the Kazakhstan Famine in Almaty
The memorial to the Kazakhstan Famine in Almaty

Astana may be the Capital, but Almaty is Kazakhstan’s Heart

The capital was moved to Astana in the late 1990s, and its unique take on over-the-top modern architecture certainly reflects its youth as a city. The capital has also become the center of the cult of personality surrounding President Nursultan Nazarbayev. However, the old capital, Almaty, is still the country’s cultural and spiritual capital. (Source: Eurasianet)

Astana, the ultra modern capital of Kazakhstan
Astana, the ultra-modern capital of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan May Be the Home of the Mythical Amazon Warriors

The ancient Scythian warriors, originally from the steppes of Kazakhstan and southern Russia, may have been the inspiration for the ancient Greek myth about the tribe of female warriors known as the Amazons. Though not a truly matriarchal society, the Skythians were much more fluid in terms of who could hold power. Burials sites of female warriors found in the past few decades have helped to corroborate this theory. (Source: Smithsonian.com)

These modern Kazakh soldiers might be the decendants of the ancient female warriors who inspired the Amazon legends.
These modern Kazakh soldiers might be the descendants of the ancient female warriors who inspired the Amazon legends.

The Soviet Space Program’s Roots are Actually in Kazakhstan

Historically, the Soviet space program launched from Baikonur, which was a hidden Cosmodrome in the middle of Kazakhstan. The first man ever in space, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, took off from Baikonur. Today, all manned space missions, including those for American astronauts headed to the International Space Station, leave from here, except for Chinese missions, which leave from Jiuquan Space Launch Center. Civilians can pay to tour the historic facility, and they can even see rocket launches if the timing (and price) is right. (Source: NASA)

When Americans need to get to the International Space Station, they head to Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome
When Americans need to get to the International Space Station, they head to Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome

Kazakhstan Travel Resources

Are you researching a trip to Kazakhstan? You might also like:

Want to explore Kazakhstan? You can explore the scenic lakes, big cities, small villages, and gorgeous mountains.
Want to explore Kazakhstan? You can explore the scenic lakes, big cities, small villages, and gorgeous mountains.

5 Things to Pack when Traveling to Kazakhstan

  • Lonely Planet Central Asia which is available as a paper copy or in a Kindle edition.
  • Your Passport since you might be required to show it to a guard at some of the activities in border zones. While you might be tempted to leave it behind in your hotel room, you’ll want to have it handy in your day bag when headed to places like Big Almaty Lake.
  • Your Cell Phone and Camera to get that Insta Pics you know you’re dying to come back with.
  • Trekking Poles for anyone planning to do the hikes while in Kazakhstan, especially if you have knee issues.
  • Travel Insurance Policy information, because things happen on the road. I pay for World Nomads, and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re going to be doing any hiking or trekking while in Kazakhstan.

    I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for travel insurance for two years, and I happily recommend them.  It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re going to be doing any adventure sports like horseback trekking, hiking, or traveling off-road. Even in Almaty, you’ll be happy when you’re able to replace your stuff if it’s lost or stolen.

Any other interesting facts about Kazakhstan that should be added to the list? Share them below!

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10 Mind-blowing Facts About Kazakhstan to Inspire Your Next Adventure

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See also
Tamgaly Tas: How to Visit Kazakhstan's Enchanting Buddhist Rock Art Sanctuary

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