Aktau
Encyclopedia
Aktau formerly known as Shevchenko , is a city in Kazakhstan
's Mangyshlak Peninsula
and country's only seaport on the Caspian Sea
. It is the capital of Mangystau Province in western Kazakhstan. Aktau literally means "white mountain" in Kazakh, so named after the cliffs overlooking the sea.
Aktau has a block
address system–the streets of the city have no names, and all addresses in Aktau consist of three numbers: the microdistrict (block) number, the building number and the apartment number. This is because the town was settled first to be the camp of the workers of oil industry from other parts of the country.
Aktau was founded in 1961 as a covert settlement, Guriyev-20, when development of uranium deposits was started. In 1963 the settlement was open and gained status of a city named Shevchenko.
From 1963 to 1991, city was named Shevchenko to honour the Ukrainian
poet
Taras Shevchenko
, who was once exiled to this remote location because of his political views. The name Aktau was brought back in 1991 as the Soviet Union collapsed and country took its independence.
Aktau was once the site of a nuclear power station. The BN-350 FBR went online in 1973, and closed in 1999. In addition to producing plutonium
, BN-350 was also used for providing power for the city and for desalination
to supply fresh water to the city. By the long-term plan of the Government of Kazakhstan a new nuclear power station is going to be built near the current one, as the current type of supplying water and energy will not be enough in the future, as the new district called Aktau -City is going to be built, doubling the current area of the city.
, a railway station, and a developed seaport. Bus
es and taxis
are the principal means of public transport within the city.
, with dry summers and mild winters, with a mean January temperature of -4°C, and a mean July temperature of 27°C
The beach season lasts from May to September, with an average sea temperature of 21°C. Aktau has rocky hills and sandy beaches at the seashore.
There are several modern resorts on the coast to the south of the city. The beaches of Caspian shore in summer are full of people, due to the hot climate in the season. Tourists come mainly from other parts of Kazakhstan.
There is a lighthouse in Aktau installed atop of apartment building.
The main attraction in the city remains the Caspian Sea with its long side walks and beaches. Other sights include:
gave a start to the project Aktau city in order to develop tourism and attract investments. A totally new city will be built to the north-west of the current city with 4 millions sq. meters of residential and business buildings to be constructed. The architecture style will be derived from UAE's construction experience under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zaid Al Nahayan
.
, Azerbaijan
Constanţa
, Romania
Poti
, Georgia
Gorgan
, Iran
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
's Mangyshlak Peninsula
Mangyshlak Peninsula
Mangyshlak or Mangghyshlaq Peninsula is located in westernKazakhstan. It borders on the Caspian Sea in the north and west.Administratively, the peninsula is in Kazakhstan's Mangystau Province. The largest city,and the capital of the province,...
and country's only seaport on the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
. It is the capital of Mangystau Province in western Kazakhstan. Aktau literally means "white mountain" in Kazakh, so named after the cliffs overlooking the sea.
Aktau has a block
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
address system–the streets of the city have no names, and all addresses in Aktau consist of three numbers: the microdistrict (block) number, the building number and the apartment number. This is because the town was settled first to be the camp of the workers of oil industry from other parts of the country.
History
The territory of Aktau was once inhabited by ancient tribes of Scythians. Current archeological finds are the demonstrations of old settlements and utensils.Aktau was founded in 1961 as a covert settlement, Guriyev-20, when development of uranium deposits was started. In 1963 the settlement was open and gained status of a city named Shevchenko.
From 1963 to 1991, city was named Shevchenko to honour the Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
poet
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
, who was once exiled to this remote location because of his political views. The name Aktau was brought back in 1991 as the Soviet Union collapsed and country took its independence.
Aktau was once the site of a nuclear power station. The BN-350 FBR went online in 1973, and closed in 1999. In addition to producing plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
, BN-350 was also used for providing power for the city and for desalination
Desalination
Desalination, desalinization, or desalinisation refers to any of several processes that remove some amount of salt and other minerals from saline water...
to supply fresh water to the city. By the long-term plan of the Government of Kazakhstan a new nuclear power station is going to be built near the current one, as the current type of supplying water and energy will not be enough in the future, as the new district called Aktau -City is going to be built, doubling the current area of the city.
Transport
Aktau has an international airportAktau Airport
-Airlines and destinations:...
, a railway station, and a developed seaport. Bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and taxis
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
are the principal means of public transport within the city.
Climate and leisure
The climate is continentalContinental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
, with dry summers and mild winters, with a mean January temperature of -4°C, and a mean July temperature of 27°C
The beach season lasts from May to September, with an average sea temperature of 21°C. Aktau has rocky hills and sandy beaches at the seashore.
There are several modern resorts on the coast to the south of the city. The beaches of Caspian shore in summer are full of people, due to the hot climate in the season. Tourists come mainly from other parts of Kazakhstan.
Sights
Aktau is a relatively young city. The architecture is a mix of modern glass business centres and residences and typical Soviet blocks of apartments.There is a lighthouse in Aktau installed atop of apartment building.
The main attraction in the city remains the Caspian Sea with its long side walks and beaches. Other sights include:
- World War II Eternal Flame Memorial
- MiG Monument at the Victory Mall
- Regional Studies and History Museum
- The Drama Theatre
- Yntymak Square
- Shevchenko Monument
Aktau city project
On September 11, 2007 President Nursultan NazarbayevNursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
gave a start to the project Aktau city in order to develop tourism and attract investments. A totally new city will be built to the north-west of the current city with 4 millions sq. meters of residential and business buildings to be constructed. The architecture style will be derived from UAE's construction experience under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zaid Al Nahayan
Sheikh Abdullah ibn Zaid Al Nahayan
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the United Arab Emirates minister of foreign affairs. He is the son of the founder of UAE, the First President, Emir of Abu Dhabi, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan...
.
Sister cities
SumqayitSumqayit
Sumgayit is one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan, located near the Caspian Sea, about 31 kilometres away from the capital, Baku. The city has a population of 308,700 , making it the third-largest city in Azerbaijan after the capital Baku and Ganja. The city has a territory of 83 km². It...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
Constanţa
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
Poti
Poti
Poti is a port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in the west of the country. Built near the site of the ancient Greek colony of Phasis, the city has become a major port city and industrial center since the early 20th century. It is also...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
Gorgan
Gorgan
Gorgan Some east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan Airport was opened in September 2005.-Etymology:...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...