January 1-2 * New Year's Holiday March 8 * International Woman's Day March 22 * Nauryz May 1 * Kazakhstan People's Unity Day May 9 * Victory Day (WWII) August 30 * Constitution Day October 25 * Republic Day December 16 * Independence Day
Fun Facts: Did you know that a birthday celebration includes tugging on the birthday person's earlobes for year of their age! Yes, it's true! If you are 12, then 12 tugs on your earlobes!
Quick Facts: Kazakhstan is located in central Asia. Its land consists of 77.4% agriculture. They have cold winters and hot summers.
Kazakhstan is a land of massive scale and surprising history, from being the ancient birthplace of common fruits to the jumping-off point for humanity's journey into space. Surprising Origins & Nature The Mother of All Apples: Genetic studies suggest that the wild apple (Malus sieversii), native to the mountains near Almaty, is the ancestor of all modern domestic apples. The name Almaty literally translates to "Father of Apples". Birthplace of Tulips: While often associated with the Netherlands, tulips actually originated in the wild steppes of Kazakhstan before being traded to the Ottoman Empire and eventually Europe. First Horse Riders: The ancient Botai culture in northern Kazakhstan is credited with being the first to domesticate and ride horses over 5,500 years ago. The "Ghost of the Mountains": Kazakhstan is one of the few places where you can find the endangered snow leopard, which serves as an official national symbol. Flamingos in the North: It is the northernmost place in the world where pink flamingos migrate, specifically to the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve.
Space & Engineering Records Gateway to the Stars: The Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world’s oldest and largest space launch facility. It was the site for the launch of Sputnik 1 (the first satellite) and Yuri Gagarin (the first human in space). World's Tallest Chimney: The Ekibastuz GRES-2 Power Station features a chimney that stands 420 metres tall—the highest in the world. Ice Skating at Altitude: The Medeo (Medeu) Ice Rink near Almaty is the highest mountain skating rink globally, sitting at 1,691 metres above sea level.
Geography & Cultural Identity World’s Largest Landlocked Country: Despite being the 9th largest country on Earth, Kazakhstan has no access to the open ocean. A "Two-Continent" Nation: Like Russia, Kazakhstan is transcontinental; its Ural River marks the border between Europe and Asia. The "Land of Wanderers": The name "Kazakh" comes from a Turkic word meaning "wanderer" or "independent," and "-stan" means "land," making it the "Land of the Wanderers". National National Drink: The traditional drink is Kymyz (fermented mare's milk), often described as "milk champagne" for its slightly fizzy, tangy taste. The Two-Sided Lake: Lake Balkhash is a unique natural phenomenon where the western half is fresh water and the eastern half is saltwater.
Beshbarmak: The national dish, consisting of boiled meat and noodles, literally means "five fingers" because it is traditionally eaten by hand. Kokpar: A popular traditional sport similar to polo, but instead of a ball, riders compete for a headless goat carcass
