Kazakhstan: Nomadic Routes From Caspian to Altai (Compact Edition) (Odyssey Illustrated Guides)

Endless steppe, stunning mountain scenery and the riches of the Caspian Sea are revealed in this comprehensive guide to Central Asia's largest country.

A country larger than Western Europe, Kazakhstan’s vast expanse encompasses the Great Steppe, across which Genghis Khan’s Mongol hordes galloped; the heights of the Tien Shan in the south, through whose foothills Silk Road travelers journeyed; the exquisite lakes and valleys of the Altai mountains in the northeast, and in the far west the archeologically rich desert coast of the Caspian Sea. With independence and the discovery of oil has come huge change, yet Kazakhstan remained one of the least known of Asian countries until the Borat movie took the world by storm in 2006. Now, this land of rich history, welcoming people and whirling bazaars shares its wonders with a curious world.

Featuring:

• Baikonur, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane and the Silk Road
• The future of Kazakhstan’s energy resources
• Kazakhstan’s archeological wealth
• Architecture from Astana to Almaty to Aktau
• The Caspian: Kazakhstan on Sea
• Valley hopping in the Tien Shan
• The Borat paradox and its surprising effect
• Superb photography from the grandeur of the Tien Shan and Altai mountains across the Great Steppe to the Caspian Sea

174 Color Photos, 17 Maps