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| Focus. On the outskirts of Almaty |
 The capital of Kazakhstan is situated in the South-east-of the Republic, on the northern flanks of the Tian-Shan Mountains, at an altitude of 600-900 meters above sea level. The Zailliski Alatau Mountains to the South are regarded as the symbol of the city and these mountains indeed play a vital part in the life of the city and its inhabitants, having a mitigating impact on the extreme continental climate and offering a quick get-away into nature. Peak Talgar (4973m above sea level) is the highest point in the Almati region.The Small Almaty Gorge is but a short drive from the center and nowadays a sought after residential area with rest homes, rest homes, sanatoria and private estates (hence the fenced road). Medeo Gorge is named after a nomad who used to dwell there and Medeo itself at an altitude of 1961m is a mere 16km drive from Almati (still within the city boundaries!). Medeo is famous not just for its picturesque panorama, but also for the huge, open air, skating rink complex which was built here. The rink works for 9 months of the year, at weekends. Even in winter it is possible to get sunburned here. Skates are available for rent. Above the rink is the 93m high Medeo Dam, formed by a rockfall created by a huge explosion. It is possible to climb to the top, but there are over 800 steps so it can be quite exhausting however there is also a road up and over the dam. To the right of the Medeo dam is Mokhnatka (Shaggy) mound (2278 m). It was given this name, because it is covered with a forest and looks from the city like a "shaggy" mountain. Before the revolution there was an orthodox cave temple and a small and secluded monastery located here but they were destroyed by the communists. Nowadays pilgrims go to cave and spring, to conduct services there.  On the other side of dam, near the Gorelnik River is a hot spring ... the water has a peculiar smell, and usually it is not drunk - but people bathe in it mixing the icy river water with hot spring water.Further along the road from Medeo, the highway zigzags for 4 km to the high, mountainous, station of Shymbulak. There is a hotel here for skiers and a 1500m cable way to Bolshoi Talgarski pass (3200m), where a 3 kilometer ski run begins. From you get a grand panoramic view. To the side of the Station lies the Levyi Talgar Gorge from where several routes lead back to Almati over mountain passes or through the Gates of Tuyuksu to the Mynzhilki valley (3040m). Above the valley are two glaciers: Tuyuksy and Igly Tuyuksu as well as some moraine lakes. Big Almaty Lake is located in the Bolshoe Almatinskoe Gorge (Big Almaty Gorge) high in the mountains at an altitude of 2505m. A road leads up to the lake but it is also possible to walk up. In winter the lake freezes over. From the lake the road rises to Jusaly-Kezen pass, some 8km. Along the road you find an observatory. Charyn Canyons - a narrow long canyon with steep slopes through with a river flows. Sandstone rocks have been eroded to create whimsical forms. Located nearly 200m off the highway in the direction of Chilik, the canyons cannot be seen from the road so it is necessary to drive through a stone desert for about 15 kilometers and it is easy to get lost. The best time for visiting the Canyons is at the beginning of spring. Stone Flower Gorge - in Russian Kamennyi Tsvetok - behind the dike on the way to Bolshoe Almatinskoe Lake, the Big Lake lies on the right hand side of the highway. The gorge is rather short and very easy to access. This canyon got its name because of the unique combination of coloured rocks that can be found here. The Pribalkhash desert some 50 km to the north of the city attracts visitors because of its sandunes. by Ian Claytor
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