Karkaraly
Encyclopedia
Karkaraly is the oldest city in the Karaganda
Oblast (Karagandy Province). Karkaraly is also known as Karkaralinsk. Its history began as a small steppe village. Caravans from Central Asia would travel through Karkaraly on their way to Siberia. The name Karkaraly is derived from the word "karkara"- a precious decorative Kazakh headpiece. According to a legend, long ago a beautiful girl dropped her Karkara in the area that is now Karkaraly. Her search was in vain and the karkara remained on the steppe. The legend states that though the beautiful karkara was lost, the beauty of the land will remain forever. According to another legend, this is the site where the great Ablai Khan was proclaimed khan.
Karkaraly is the regional center for the Karkaraly district. By demography and economy, the Karkaraly district is one of the largest in the Karaganda Province. The district has an area of 35 million hectares and a population of 42,500 people. 75% of that population live outside the city limits of Karkaraly. 16 ethnic groups are represented within the Karkaraly district. Of these, the largest ethnic group is Kazakh (96.2%), followed by Russian (2.23%), and Ukrainian (0.49%).
Among those that visited were:
The history of Karkaraly is connected with the great Kazakh educator, poet, and composer Abai Kunanbaev. His father was the senior sultan of the Karkaraly region and created a name for himself by erecting the town’s mosque (known as Kunanbaev Mosque) and from his other acts of charity. In his historical novel-epic, author Muhtar Auezov wrote that by virtue of “building the mosque, Kunanbai has gained respect and glory.” The house in which Abai used to live in has been preserved and is now the city's music school.
Age (250-300 million years ago), this area of Kazakhstan was an inland sea. The water retreated 1.2 to 2 million years ago, when the ancient Paleozoic shield was cracked by granite. The area lifted and created the Kent and Karkaraly Mountains. The rocks and cliffs have been here ever since and for many thousands of years the untamable steppe wind and precipitation has sculpted the rocks into unique shapes.
People have lived in the Karkaraly area since ancient times. The earliest archeological finds connected with ancient people dates back to the Paleolithic
(or Stone) Age. Artifacts such as knives, scrapers, and spear heads have been found within what is now Karkaraly National Park. Archeological sites from the Bronze Age
have been investigated more. Artifacts and cemeteries from the Andronovo culture
(18-14 centuries BC) have been discovered. In one case, a cemetery was found with two tombs inside a stone fence. Stone coffins were found at a depth of one meter. In the tomb were also pots, items made of bronze, an axe, arrowheads, knives, female adornments, and items made of gold, bone and stone.
The Akimek Settlement in the Kent Mountains has been one of most investigated sites in the area. It also belonged to the Andronovo people. They raised cattle and established settlements along bodies of waters. Settlements were small and usually consisted of houses erected of stone and wood. They focused mainly on raising cows, instead of sheep and horses. They had wheeled transport, including chariots. The remains of a fighting chariot have been found in the tomb of an Andronovo solder, excavated in the Karkaraly area. The people were also engaged in hoe-mattock agriculture. The metallurgy of the bronze age was highly advanced. Andronovo people were of European descent and are the most ancient genetic ancestors of the Kazakh people. DNA tests have revealed that 60 % of the tested remains had light hair and blue or green eyes.
During the late Bronze age
(13-9 centuries BC to our current era), successors of the Andronovo people created the Begazy-dandybai culture. In the Kent Mountains, 12 settlements and 10 cemeteries have been uncovered. The ancient city of Kent was also uncovered. Kent is the biggest settlement from the Bronze Age known in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The settlement was 30 hectares large and was home to 1,000 people. The town was divided into streets and quarters, including a quarter for metallurgists in which copper and bronze artifacts have been found. Most likely the inhabitants of Kent were skilled metallurgists. Huge furnaces have been found for the purpose of creating bronze. Excavations of Kent have amazed archeologist with an abundance of bronze products and unusual artifacts. Researchers now guess the area was inhabited for 200–300 years. Kent is believed to have been an important political and economical regional center (ceramics found in Kent prove that the settlement had numerous commercial and political contacts with western Siberia, Central Asia, Xinjiang and Iran.http://www.discovery-kazakhstan.com/archive/2008/10_17.php It is also believed that the inhabitants of Kent did not have a system of writing. The ancient city of Kent is currently located in Karkaraly National Park.
Archeological sites from the early Iron age
(8-7 centuries BC to 1 century AD) have also been found throughout the territory of the national park, but these sites have been investigated far less.
Another famous archeological site, from more recent times, is the mid-17th century Dzungar monastery, in the Kent Mountains. The name of the monument is “Kyzyl Kensh Palace", which means "red ore" or "red city". According to scientists, the monastery was inhabited for as much as 50 years. In the 19th century an ethnographic expedition from Tsarist Russia was conducted in the Kent Mountains. During this time period, part of the complex was still standing. One two-story building was almost untouched and one could see red paint on some of the inner walls. The ceiling was propped up by six wooden columns, carved and covered with gold paint. Unfortunately, after this period, the palace was destroyed for logs and stone. The ruins are now inside Karkaraly National Park and some efforts have been made to restore the palace.
The main contributing areas to the economy are farming, ranching, mining and ecotourism.
The following ore deposits have all been found and mined in the area: barite
, iron
, copper
, gold
, molybdenum
, and tungsten
. In the Karkaraly mountains, nearly 100 minerals can be found, including: smoky topaz
, crystal, chalcopyrite
, azurite
, chalcedony
, and malachite
. Significant reserves of building materials are also in the area: granite, marble, limestone, gypsum, gravel, pebbles and sand. Also along numerous lakes are large deposits of mud which are used medicinally in spas to quickly achieve positive sanogenetic effects in the treatment of degenerative joint (rheumatoid and artroidnyh) disease and sciatica.
However, the leading role in economic development belongs to Karkaraly National Park. The park is a geographic point of interest and a scientific and educational center. In recent years the park administration has worked on improving the tourism infrastructure and has encouraged business ventures in the area of tourism. Today there are 16 places of accommodation in and around the national park. Karkaraly National Park offers interesting landscapes, archaeological sites, rich biodiversity, and clean mountain air.
The natural scenery, natural resources, and vast areas of farm and grasslands offer a good base for future economic development.
The Karkaraly National Park has over 150 species of birds, 46 species of mammals, 6 reptile and 2 amphibian species. Two mammals and eleven bird species are listed in Kazakhstan's Red Book of protected species. Among these are the argali
, the worlds largest wild sheep, and the golden eagle
.
The Karkaraly and Kent Mountains are well known for their unique rock formations and "hidden" mountain lakes. Hiking, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, photo safari and cultural guides by the national park, and swimming in the mountains lakes are all popular activities for tourists.
Karaganda
Karagandy , more commonly known by its Russian name Karaganda, , is the capital of Karagandy Province in Kazakhstan. It is the fourth most populous city in Kazakhstan, behind Almaty , Astana and Shymkent, with a population of 471,800 . In the 1940s up to 70% of the city's inhabitants were ethnic...
Oblast (Karagandy Province). Karkaraly is also known as Karkaralinsk. Its history began as a small steppe village. Caravans from Central Asia would travel through Karkaraly on their way to Siberia. The name Karkaraly is derived from the word "karkara"- a precious decorative Kazakh headpiece. According to a legend, long ago a beautiful girl dropped her Karkara in the area that is now Karkaraly. Her search was in vain and the karkara remained on the steppe. The legend states that though the beautiful karkara was lost, the beauty of the land will remain forever. According to another legend, this is the site where the great Ablai Khan was proclaimed khan.
Karkaraly is the regional center for the Karkaraly district. By demography and economy, the Karkaraly district is one of the largest in the Karaganda Province. The district has an area of 35 million hectares and a population of 42,500 people. 75% of that population live outside the city limits of Karkaraly. 16 ethnic groups are represented within the Karkaraly district. Of these, the largest ethnic group is Kazakh (96.2%), followed by Russian (2.23%), and Ukrainian (0.49%).
History
A fortress was built here in 1824. Three years later the Cossacks took it over. In 1869 Karkaraly was given the status of a city. In the 19th century, the city was an important trade center. The famous Koyandy fair helped in the development of trade, economic relationships, and culture. During this time, Karkaraly was the regional capital of the Semipalatinsk Province. Gradually, Karkaraly became a large public and political center where politicians, people in literature and art, educators, scientists and travelers came.Among those that visited were:
- Shokan ValikhanovShokan ValikhanovChokan Chingisovich Valikhanov , given name Muxammed Qanafiya Shokan was his pen-name, and later became his official name. was a famous Kazakh scholar, ethnographer and historian. He is regarded as the father of modern Kazakh historiography and ethnography. The Kazakh Academy of Sciences is named...
- the first Kazakh scholar, ethnographer, and historian. He is regarded as the father of Kazakh historiography and ethnography. - Grigory PotaninGrigory PotaninGrigory Nikolayaevich Potanin was a Russian explorer of Inner Asia who aligned himself with the Siberian separatist movement...
- a famous Russian explorer and ethnographer. He came to Karkaraly in 1913 to study Kazakh folklore.
Ancient Times
In the PaleozoicPaleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
Age (250-300 million years ago), this area of Kazakhstan was an inland sea. The water retreated 1.2 to 2 million years ago, when the ancient Paleozoic shield was cracked by granite. The area lifted and created the Kent and Karkaraly Mountains. The rocks and cliffs have been here ever since and for many thousands of years the untamable steppe wind and precipitation has sculpted the rocks into unique shapes.
People have lived in the Karkaraly area since ancient times. The earliest archeological finds connected with ancient people dates back to the Paleolithic
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Age, Era or Period, is a prehistoric period of human history distinguished by the development of the most primitive stone tools discovered , and covers roughly 99% of human technological prehistory...
(or Stone) Age. Artifacts such as knives, scrapers, and spear heads have been found within what is now Karkaraly National Park. Archeological sites from the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
have been investigated more. Artifacts and cemeteries from the Andronovo culture
Andronovo culture
The Andronovo culture, is a collection of similar local Bronze Age cultures that flourished ca. 21200–1400 BCE in western Siberia and the west Asiatic steppe. It is probably better termed an archaeological complex or archaeological horizon...
(18-14 centuries BC) have been discovered. In one case, a cemetery was found with two tombs inside a stone fence. Stone coffins were found at a depth of one meter. In the tomb were also pots, items made of bronze, an axe, arrowheads, knives, female adornments, and items made of gold, bone and stone.
The Akimek Settlement in the Kent Mountains has been one of most investigated sites in the area. It also belonged to the Andronovo people. They raised cattle and established settlements along bodies of waters. Settlements were small and usually consisted of houses erected of stone and wood. They focused mainly on raising cows, instead of sheep and horses. They had wheeled transport, including chariots. The remains of a fighting chariot have been found in the tomb of an Andronovo solder, excavated in the Karkaraly area. The people were also engaged in hoe-mattock agriculture. The metallurgy of the bronze age was highly advanced. Andronovo people were of European descent and are the most ancient genetic ancestors of the Kazakh people. DNA tests have revealed that 60 % of the tested remains had light hair and blue or green eyes.
During the late Bronze age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
(13-9 centuries BC to our current era), successors of the Andronovo people created the Begazy-dandybai culture. In the Kent Mountains, 12 settlements and 10 cemeteries have been uncovered. The ancient city of Kent was also uncovered. Kent is the biggest settlement from the Bronze Age known in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The settlement was 30 hectares large and was home to 1,000 people. The town was divided into streets and quarters, including a quarter for metallurgists in which copper and bronze artifacts have been found. Most likely the inhabitants of Kent were skilled metallurgists. Huge furnaces have been found for the purpose of creating bronze. Excavations of Kent have amazed archeologist with an abundance of bronze products and unusual artifacts. Researchers now guess the area was inhabited for 200–300 years. Kent is believed to have been an important political and economical regional center (ceramics found in Kent prove that the settlement had numerous commercial and political contacts with western Siberia, Central Asia, Xinjiang and Iran.http://www.discovery-kazakhstan.com/archive/2008/10_17.php It is also believed that the inhabitants of Kent did not have a system of writing. The ancient city of Kent is currently located in Karkaraly National Park.
Archeological sites from the early Iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
(8-7 centuries BC to 1 century AD) have also been found throughout the territory of the national park, but these sites have been investigated far less.
Another famous archeological site, from more recent times, is the mid-17th century Dzungar monastery, in the Kent Mountains. The name of the monument is “Kyzyl Kensh Palace", which means "red ore" or "red city". According to scientists, the monastery was inhabited for as much as 50 years. In the 19th century an ethnographic expedition from Tsarist Russia was conducted in the Kent Mountains. During this time period, part of the complex was still standing. One two-story building was almost untouched and one could see red paint on some of the inner walls. The ceiling was propped up by six wooden columns, carved and covered with gold paint. Unfortunately, after this period, the palace was destroyed for logs and stone. The ruins are now inside Karkaraly National Park and some efforts have been made to restore the palace.
Economy
The following ore deposits have all been found and mined in the area: barite
Barite
Baryte, or barite, is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate. The baryte group consists of baryte, celestine, anglesite and anhydrite. Baryte itself is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of barium...
, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, molybdenum
Molybdenum
Molybdenum , is a Group 6 chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42. The name is from Neo-Latin Molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek , meaning lead, itself proposed as a loanword from Anatolian Luvian and Lydian languages, since its ores were confused with lead ores...
, and tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
. In the Karkaraly mountains, nearly 100 minerals can be found, including: smoky topaz
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.-Color and varieties:...
, crystal, chalcopyrite
Chalcopyrite
Chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulfide mineral that crystallizes in the tetragonal system. It has the chemical composition CuFeS2. It has a brassy to golden yellow color and a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. Its streak is diagnostic as green tinged black.On exposure to air, chalcopyrite...
, azurite
Azurite
Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. It is also known as Chessylite after the type locality at Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France...
, chalcedony
Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of the minerals quartz and moganite. These are both silica minerals, but they differ in that quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, while moganite is monoclinic...
, and malachite
Malachite
Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral, with the formula Cu2CO32. This green-colored mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. Individual crystals are rare but do occur as slender to acicular prisms...
. Significant reserves of building materials are also in the area: granite, marble, limestone, gypsum, gravel, pebbles and sand. Also along numerous lakes are large deposits of mud which are used medicinally in spas to quickly achieve positive sanogenetic effects in the treatment of degenerative joint (rheumatoid and artroidnyh) disease and sciatica.
However, the leading role in economic development belongs to Karkaraly National Park. The park is a geographic point of interest and a scientific and educational center. In recent years the park administration has worked on improving the tourism infrastructure and has encouraged business ventures in the area of tourism. Today there are 16 places of accommodation in and around the national park. Karkaraly National Park offers interesting landscapes, archaeological sites, rich biodiversity, and clean mountain air.
The natural scenery, natural resources, and vast areas of farm and grasslands offer a good base for future economic development.
Places of Interest
- House of Аbai - Abai Kunanbaev (1845–1904) was a famous Kazakh poet, founder of the modern Kazakh literature, and composer. As a child, Аbai Kunanbaev traveled through this area on his way to the Koyandinsk FairKoyandinsk FairThe Koyandinsk Fair was a large annual trade fair held every June from 1848 to 1930 in the Karkaraly region of Kazakhstan on the caravan route from Central Asia to Siberia, located near modern day Egindybulak, near a large freshwater lake.-Origins:The Koyandinsk Fair opened in 1848 when merchant...
and stayed in “the dark blue house” that belonged to a local family. The house was constructed without nails. M. Auezov describes Abai’s stay in Karkaraly in the novel “The Way of Abai.” Currently the building is the town’s music school.
- Kunanbaya Mosque - The construction of this wooden mosque began in 1850 and ended in 1851. Permission for the construction was granted in 1847 by the heads of the 16 surrounding townships and stamped by Sultan Kusbeka Taukeuly. At the mosque a madrasas was built, which is housing for students and home for the mullahs (Islamic clergy). The mosque served as a place to educate children and the spread the word of Islam in the Karkaraly District. This mosque was financed by the father of the great Kazkah poet Abai Kunabaev, and from 1849 to 1853 was at the forefront of the social and administrative life in the Karkaraly area. Kunanbaya Mosque is perhaps one of the first mosques in the northern regions of Kazakhstan. The mosque is a wooden two-story building, made of local wood. Initially it was a log building, but later face boards were put on it. For years the mosque was the site of Muslim teachings. Here they taught moral truths, humanity, honesty, tolerance, and conducted many national ceremonies. In the Soviet period, the unique architecture and beauty of the mosque was seriously damaged. The minaret of the mosque was destroyed in 1920 and soon after the mosque was converted into a school, then a warehouse, and finally abandoned altogether. In the 1980s the mosque was restored to its previous state and today operates in its original purpose. It is considered a pilgrimage site for believers and all those who cherish the local history.
- The house where Potanin stayed - Grigory Potanin (1835–1920) was an explorer of Central and Middle Asia and Siberia. In 1913, Potanin visited the city of Karkaraly, to study Kazakh folklore, and stayed in a house that belonged to Vasily Petrovich Ryazantseva. Before it was a home, the wooden building housed a trading company named “Kuzmin and Derov”. On November 6, 1890, VP Rayzantseva bought the building for 600 rubles. In 1920 the house was purchased by the state. The building housed various Soviet institutions, including schools. The first library in Karkaraly was established in 1892 and had 626 books given to them by officials. In 2004 the library was moved to its current location: the house where Potanin stayed.
- Monument of the 78 Communists - In the spring of 1921, after being defeated near the city of Akmola, an armed detachment of rebels led by Captain Tokarev retreated south-east to the border of China. Along the way they attacked communist party and government officials and led an anti-communism campaign, using propagandist slogans such as 'down with the appropriation of surpluses' and 'long live the soviets without the communists'. On April 6, 700 wagons carrying 2,500 people entered Karkaraly, where there were only 50 Red Army soldiers and about 60 Communists. The Communists, while gathered for an emergency meeting in the People’s House, were arrested, interrogated, tortured, and then killed. 78 people were killed in 6 days. On April 12, the rebels left town two days before the arrival of detachments from the Red Army. On April 23, the detachment, including volunteers from Pavlodar (550 bayonets and 70 swords), overtook the rebels 180 km southeast of Karkaraly. A battle took place and the rebels fled to China. In autumn of 1921, an agreement with the Chinese authorities allowed the 13th Caucasian division of the Red Army to cross the border. They defeated and captured the remaining members of the gang. In May 1922 a trail was held in Krasnoyarsk. Captain Tokarev and the other gang members were shot to death. A monument to those who were killed in Karkaraly was constructed outside the Akimat (city hall).
- The Grieving Mother’s Memorial - The monument and obelisk “Fighting Glory” was constructed in the city park of Karkaraly. The monument consists of an obelisk in the form of a bayonet (8 meters tall) next to an eternal flame. Next to these is a woman wearing traditional dress, sadly holding her hands in front of her. Two stones in front of the memorial read in Russian and Kazakh: “Eternal glory to our local countrymen who fell in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.”
- Folk Ensemble "Saltanat" - "Saltanat" was created in 1969 as an amateur vocal/dance group. They gained national recognition in 1970. In 1975, the ensemble was awarded the honorary title of the "People's Team of Art." In this period the group has repeatedly performed in Almaty and other cities in neighboring republics. The group was invited to the 19th International Festival, which took place in France in 1976. 27 troupes from around the world visited this festival. Karkaraly's "Saltanat" participated on behalf of the entire Soviet Union. The ensemble won 1st prize and returned with great honor. During the 1990s "Saltanat" took an active part in the cultural life of the region. During this period they qualified for an international festival in Bulgaria. The folk ensemble is still active today and is still recognized for their talents.
Nature
The town of Karkaraly is nestled against the Karkaraly Mountains. These forests and mountains have been protected, through various government agencies since 1884. In relatively recent history, this area has historically been a place where coal and metal miners from Karaganda would come to rest. In 1998, the Karkaraly National Park was formed. The park encompasses 112,120 ha of mountains, forest, and steppe. The park is separated into 4 geographic areas and covers the Karkaraly and Kent Mountains.The Karkaraly National Park has over 150 species of birds, 46 species of mammals, 6 reptile and 2 amphibian species. Two mammals and eleven bird species are listed in Kazakhstan's Red Book of protected species. Among these are the argali
Argali
The argali, or the mountain sheep is a wild sheep, which roams the highlands of Central Asia . It is the biggest wild sheep, standing at the shoulder, measuring long and weighing , with a maximum known weight of...
, the worlds largest wild sheep, and the golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
.
The Karkaraly and Kent Mountains are well known for their unique rock formations and "hidden" mountain lakes. Hiking, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, photo safari and cultural guides by the national park, and swimming in the mountains lakes are all popular activities for tourists.
Spring
Spring in Karkaraly begins in mid-March and lasts until the end of May. During this short period the air temperature rises to an average of 15 C. Snow cover in open areas begins to melt quickly, but in shady canyons the snow may last until the end of May. When snow melts there are numerous streams and small waterfalls, as well as dry riverbeds that fill with melt water. The surrounding nature also begins to wake up: the birds and animals arrive. The primrose, tulips, and other flowers begin to arrive. In May, the trees are covered with young leaves and the forest is filled with even more birds. Within the spring months, may is the most enjoyable
Summer
In Karkaraly, summer begins in early June. The overall average air temperature for the summer months is 18 C, and in the daytime the air warms up to an average of 25 С (on hot days to 37 C). The hottest month of the year is July. Rainfall in the summer usually comes in the form of showers and thunderstorms.
The beginning of summer is characterized by the abundant flowering of plants. In the middle of summer, berries begin to ripen (strawberries, stone berry, raspberry, strawberry, currant), and edible mushrooms are abundant. The summer months are considered the most comfortable time of the year to visit Karkaraly.
Autumn
Autumn is the most vivid and colorful season in the national park. It starts in mid-September and lasts until mid-November. The weather is particularly good in September, as a temperatures begin to drop. In October, there is a possibility of a freeze and there is an increase the number of cloudy days, with possible rain. In the first half of October the average daily temperature falls below 10 C.
By the end of October all the migratory birds fly south. The forests in the park are saturated with colors. Many mushrooms can be found during this time of year. In late autumn, most wild animals are changing the colors of their coats and preparing for winter. In the autumn months, the most comfortable months are September and early October.
Winter
Winter in Karkaraly is cold and snowy. Negative temperatures are recorded from November to March and sustained cold weather lasts an average of 135 days. During this period, the daytime temperature does not usually rise above 0 C and nights are usually very cold. In January–February, the temperature drops to an average of – 20 to -30 C. In abnormally cold years, the temperature can drop to - 49 C. The snow cover reaches heights of 50-60 cm, and in drifts up to 1 meter or more. During the winter, locals and tourists enjoy cross-country skiing on the roads and in the forests.
Famous people from Karkaraly
- Kazybek bi :ru:Казыбек би (1667–1763)- a composer, diplomat, and one of the authors of the first systematic set of Kazakh customs.
He was born in 1665 in the Karkaraly area. Kazybek bi mediated a truce between two fighting Khans. He fought for the consolidation of the Kazakh Khans and developed the Code of the Khan (The Seven Truths). Kazbek bi was a master with words and the people nicknamed him "the voice". He is known for his many sayings and aphorisms.
- Madi Bapiuly :ru:Мади Бапиулы (1880–1921)- poet, singer, composer. His songs were used in the first Kazakh national opera.
Madi is a prominent figure in the history of Karkaraly. He was a Kazakh folk composer and singer. His world-view and creativity were influenced by Abai Kunanbaev and others. He was familiar with the famous Kazakh musicians Birzhan Sal, Baluan Sholak, and Zhayau Musa. Madi, in his works, called for people to expose injustice and promoted equality. Because of this he was persecuted by the tsarist authorities. He was a member of the national liberation uprising in 1916, helped in the establishment of the Soviet power in Karkaraly, and was a member of the Karkaraly Soviets. Some of his widely known songs are titled: "Karakesek", "Ushkara", and "Madi". These songs were sung in Kazakh operas "Er Targyn" and "Kiz Zhibek". A street in Karkaraly has been named after Madi and a statue has been erected in his honor.
- Alihan Bukeyhanov :ru:Алихан Букейханов (1866–1937)- a Kazakh social activist, teacher, journalist, and ethnographer. He was one of the leaders of the "Alash" party and was Commissioner of the Provisional Government of Kazakhstan (1917).
He was born in a small village outside of Karkaraly. Alikhan is a descendant of Bukeikhan, son of the great Kokzhala Barak Khan. Bukeikhan was one of the last of the Kazakh khans who occupied the Khan's throne. In 1877 Bukeikhan sent Alihan to the madrassa of Mullah Zafira in Karkaraly (Kunanbaya Mosque), which was opened in 1851 by the father of the great Kazakh poet Abai Kunabaev. After successfully completing his studies in madrasas in 1879, Alikhan attended the city school and then attended the city vocational school for four years.
In school he studied Kazakh grammar, Kazakh literature, and Russian. He especially liked the poems of Abai Kunabaev. In the Karkaraly library he was introduced to Russian world literature. After finishing school in Karkaraly in 1886, Alikhan continued his education in the city of Omsk, which was one of the cultural and administrative centers of the Steppe Region.
Alikhan Bukeikhanov is among the most prominent political and public figures in Kazakh history. For his entire life he was devoted to the liberation of his people from social oppression.
- Ahmet Baytursinuli :ru:Байтурсынов, Ахмет (1873–1937)- author of the Kazakh alphabet, editor of the only Kazakh language newspaper in OrenburgOrenburgOrenburg is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies southeast of Moscow, very close to the border with Kazakhstan. Population: 546,987 ; 549,361 ; Highest point: 154.4 m...
, Russia, singer, musician, poet, scholar, teacher, translator, essayist, expert on law, and public figure.
He was born January 28, 1873 in a village in the Kostanai region of Kazakhstan to a in simple peasant family. He studied in man mullahs and schools throughout Kazakhstan before moving to Karkaraly. Years of residence in Karkaraly acquainted him with modern thinking politicians such as Alihan Bukeyhanov and others. These interactions convinced him that the country needs competent, educated people, more schools, and more books. He became the author and compiler of the primer of the Kazakh alphabet.
The 1905 Russian Revolution aroused hope for change within Ahmet. He actively took part in the popular unrest, often spoke at demonstrations, and organized a group of Kazakh intelegentia.
Between 1913 - 1917 he was editor of the newspaper "Kazakh", the only one in the Kazakh language manufactured in Orenburg. Ahmet was a versatile man, was known to be a wonderful singer, musician, even a contested in wrestling matches.
- Zhakyr Akbaev (1876–1934)- among the first Kazakhs to have a LLM (master of lawsMaster of LawsThe Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
), outstanding historian, and a scholar with an encyclopedic knowledge.
Zhakyr Akbaev was born November 7, 1876 in a village outside of Karkaraly. His father was a fairly educated man for his time. In 1886, he was sent to school in Karkaraly and later to OmskOmsk-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
and TomskTomskTomsk is a city and the administrative center of Tomsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Tom River. One of the oldest towns in Siberia, Tomsk celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2004...
, Russia. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in St. Petersburg University and graduated in 1903 with honors. Akbaeva worked tirelessly for the people and helped expose illegal arrests and government harassment. He fought to create a basis of rule of law and equal rights.
- Nurken Abdirov:ru:Нуркен Абдиров (1919–1942)- Air Force pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union
Nurken Abdirov was a sergeant in the 808th Attack Regiment, 267th Air Division for the Soviet Union. He was born in a small village outside of Karkaraly in 1919 to a peasant family. In his childhood years he moved to Karaganda and eventually graduated from aviator school.
When World War II began, Nurken Abdirov was a student in Orenburg, Russian. He was accelerated through the learning program for military attack pilots and spent training time in Tashkent and Siberia. After graduation, he was immediately sent to the front lines in the 808th Attack Regiment, 267th Air Division.
In 17 battles he destroyed 18 enemy tanks, 46 trucks and carts, 3 fuel tankers, 5 anti-aircraft artillery, and a few bunkers.
On December 19, 1942 Abdirov, along with a radio operator-gunner Sasha Komissarov, made his last flight. In a raid on a heavily fortified German line, Abdirov disabled 6 tanks, a few bunkers, 2 anti-aircraft artillery. But his plane was hit and caught on fire. Knowing escape was impossible, Abdirov and Komissarov drove their plane into a German tank column.
By decree of the President of the USSR on March 31, 1943 Nurken Abdirova was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet UnionHero of the Soviet UnionThe title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
(posthumously).
- Toktar Aubakirov :ru:Аубакиров, Токтар Онгарбаевич (1946–present)- distinguished test pilot, Kazakhstan's first cosmonaut, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, Major General, and Hero of the Soviet Union.
Toktar Aubakirov was born in a village outside Karkaraly. He worked in the TemirtauTemirtauTemirtau is a city in the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan. Pop 180,000.-History:*1905, June, 15 - the first groups of settlers settled down on the left bank of the Nura River. There were 40 families, that had arrived from Samara...
foundry-mechanical plant before graduating from aviation school. He graduated from the Moscow School of Test Pilots in 1976 and the Moscow Aviation InstituteMoscow Aviation InstituteMoscow Aviation Institute is one of several major engineering higher education establishments in Moscow .Although the school is currently offering a wide range of majors and research...
in 1979. Between 1976 and 1992 he worked for the Test Pilot Experimental Design Bureau and flew more than 50 new types of jets. Aubakirov proved himself to be a highly qualified expert in aviation. He flew to the North Pole without landing, fueling his plane twice in the air. He was the first person to land a Mig 29 on an aircraft cruiserAircraft cruiserThe aircraft cruiser or cruiser-carrier was originally a 1930s experimental concept of creating an all-around warship, trying to combine all the good features of the aircraft carrier and the heavy cruiser...
.
In 1990 he was admitted to a cosmonaut unit and on October 2, 1991 he was launched into space from the Baikonur CosmodromeBaikonur CosmodromeThe Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
aboard the Soyuz TM-13Soyuz TM-13-Mission highlights:13th expedition to Mir. Included astronaut from Austria and cosmonaut from soon to be independent Kazakhstan.Soyuz-TM 13 carried Austrian cosmonaut-researcher Franz Viehböck and still Soviet-Kazakh cosmonaut-researcher Toktar Aubakirov. The flight was unusual for carrying no...
. He returned to Earth on October 10, 1991. Aubakirov was the first Soviet citizen to go into space without actually being certified as a cosmonaut, because his flight was hurried forward due to the flight being a part of the Baikonur rental agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia. In this flight, Aubakirov, along with other experienced specialists and cosmonauts, conducted scientific research in biotechnology, medicine, and metallurgy, as well as conducted astrophysical monitoring and research of the atmosphere and surface within Kazakhstan.
He has held the positions of First Deputy to the Minister of Defense for the Republic of Kazakhstan (1992-1993), General Manager of the National Aerospace Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1993-1994), Minister of Science and New Technologies of Kazakhstan, member of the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan (1994-1995), Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan (1996-present), and Deputy Secretary of the Council for Security Committee.
- Erlan Idrissov (April 28, 1959 – present)- current Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States. He previously served as Foreign Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan from 1999-2002.