KAZAKHSTAN - Almaty

Kazakhstan is a country in northern Central Asiaand is the world's largest landlocked country. Kazakhstan is the dominant nation of Central Asia economically, mostly with its oil, gas and mining gas industries.

Almaty was the capital of the Kazakh state in its various forms from 1929 to 1997, under the influence of the then Soviet Union. The new capital is Astana.

Almaty remains the major commercial and cultural centre of Kazakhstan, as well as its biggest population center.

On a clear day you can see the beautifully rugged, snow capped mountains, right at the city's doorstep to the south.