Kazakhstan - Culture Smart!

Kazakhstan - Culture Smart! explores one of the largest countries on earth, a nation that was long hidden from the rest of the world behind the Iron Curtain. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Kazakhstan remained unnoticed among the Central Asian 'stans.' However, in the ensuing twenty years, it has emerged as a modern state with far-reaching ambitions.

The country has developed rapidly over the last decade, raising a brand-new capital in the middle of its vast, empty grasslands, and stepping up to take the leading position in the region. Blessed with great reserves of oil, gas, and mineral resources, Kazakhstan is politically and economically stable, and the richest country in Central Asia.

The seemingly endless expanse of the Kazakh Steppe takes visitors by surprise. In the east and southeast, the terrain eventually changes to picturesque highlands and mountains, providing natural habitats for a number of rare animal and bird species. Once home to ancient civilizations, this immense land has yielded a wealth of archaeological artefacts.

The modern Kazakh people emerged from the rise and fall of a succession of medieval Turkic states before being absorbed into the Russian Empire. Historically pastoral nomads, the Kazakhs have a rich cultural legacy that continues to influence their society today.