Aktau(/ˌɑːkˈtaʊ/;Kazakh:Aqtau / Ақтау[ɑqˈtɑw]()) is a city in south-westKazakhstan,located on the eastern shore of theCaspian Sea.Its name means 'white mountain' in theKazakh language,which may be due to its cliffs that overlook the Caspian. From 1964 to 1991, the city was known asShevchenko,which was given due to theeponymous Ukrainian poet'speriod of exile in the area.[5]It is located on theMangyshlak Peninsulaand is the capital of theMangystau Region.
Aktau
Aqtau / Ақтау(Kazakh) | |
|---|---|
    From top left to down right:Skyline of Aktau, the Rocky shore of the Caspian Sea, The Lighthouse, Main Street leading to the Port with the Caspian Sea in the background. | |
 Seal | |
  Aktau Location in Kazakhstan  Aktau Aktau (Asia) | |
| Coordinates:43°39′09″N51°09′27″E/ 43.65250°N 51.15750°E | |
| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Region | Mangystau Region |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Government | |
| • Akim(mayor) | Abilkair Baipakov[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 77 km2(30 sq mi) |
| Elevation | −8 m (−26 ft) |
| Population (2023)[2] | |
| • Total | 270,886 |
| • Density | 3,500/km2(9,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5(UTC+5) |
| Postal code | 130000 |
| Area code | +7 7292 |
| Vehicle registration | 12, R |
| HDI(2019) | 0.804[3] high·4 |
| GDP(nominal) | 2022 |
| • Total |  $9,6 billion(KZT4 401 192,9 million)[4] |
| • Per capita | $12,799 (KZT5 817,8 thousand) |
| Website | aktau |
Aktau is known for its uniqueblockaddress system.Almost no streets in Aktau have names; instead, addresses generally consist of three numbers: the district number (also known as micro-region/micro-district/block), the building number, and the apartment number. This is because Aktau was originally planned as a camp for the workers of the oil industry.[6]
History
editThe territory of what is now Aktau was once inhabited by ancient tribes ofScythians.Archeological finds in the area include old settlements and utensils. The current territory ofMangystau Regionhosted a spur route of the northern silk road, which resulted in the founding of several Sufi shrines in Aktau's vicinity. However, the area had very little population prior to Soviet times and no cities of any relevancy, almost certainly due to the scarcity of fresh water.
Soviet period
editIn 1958,uraniumprospectors settled the site of modern Aktau, naming the settlementMelovoyeafter the bay on which it stood.[7]After the development of the uranium deposits was started, the settlement wasclosedand renamedGuryev-20.[7]In 1963, its closed status was lifted, town status was granted,[citation needed]and the name was changed to Aktau.[8]However, in 1964 it was given yet another name,Shevchenko,to honor the Ukrainian poetTaras Shevchenkowho spent 1850–1857 in political exile inNovopetrovskoye,about 100 km (62 mi) to the northwest.[8]This Ukrainian name for the city may have been granted due to the large number of Ukrainian workers who settled in the city. Their descendants are often easily identifiable to this day with many having surnames ending in '-enko'.
Post-independence period
editAfter thedissolution of the Soviet Unionand Kazakhstan gaining independence, the name Aktau was restored in 1991, but the city's airport still retains SCO as its IATA code.[8]
Aktau city project
edit
On September 11, 2007, PresidentNursultan Nazarbayevstarted theAktau cityproject in order to develop tourism and attract investment.[9]A totally new city was to have been built to the north-west of the current city with 4 million square meters of new residential and business buildings. The architecture style would have been derived fromUAE's construction experience under the patronage ofSheikh Abdullah ibn Zaid Al Nahayan.In August 2013, the project was called off.[10]
2017 time capsule opening
editIn 1967, the people of Aktau erected atime capsuleto send a message to future generations of theMangyshlak Peninsula,including names of people who helped to build the town in the desert. The letter was put in a metallic cylinder in a triangular marble urn. It was opened in November 2017.[6]The capsule is located in District 2, opposite the 'Kazakhstan Trade Center.'
A ceremony to open the capsule was arranged and people traveled from far and wide to attend. This was subsequently postponed and then cancelled when it became known that capsule was, in fact, missing. Previously the capsule had been buried in another part of the town but building works in that location caused it to be relocated to the District 2 location. The capsule did not make the move. An official from the time of the creation of the capsule who had been involved in the drafting of a message to be included within the capsule was able to remember word for word the message that was written which by all accounts contained a theme of hope for the future.
Climate
edit| Aktau | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aktau experiences acold desert climate(KöppenBWk), with warm to hot dry summers and cold winters, with a mean January temperature of −0.5 °C (31.1 °F), and a mean July temperature of +25.55 °C (77.99 °F). It is notable that most of the city of Aktau lies below sea level in theCaspian Depressionand is proximate to the lowest point in Kazakhstan and the formerSoviet UnionatKaragiye.
| Climate data for Aktau (1991–2020, extremes 1960–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
21.6 (70.9) |
25.1 (77.2) |
31.5 (88.7) |
39.5 (103.1) |
43.1 (109.6) |
43.0 (109.4) |
44.1 (111.4) |
39.2 (102.6) |
32.8 (91.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
17.7 (63.9) |
44.1 (111.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
4.1 (39.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
16.9 (62.4) |
23.5 (74.3) |
28.9 (84.0) |
31.9 (89.4) |
30.9 (87.6) |
25.2 (77.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
9.3 (48.7) |
3.9 (39.0) |
17.1 (62.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.0 (30.2) |
0.2 (32.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
12.4 (54.3) |
18.8 (65.8) |
24.0 (75.2) |
26.4 (79.5) |
25.6 (78.1) |
19.9 (67.8) |
12.9 (55.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
0.5 (32.9) |
12.6 (54.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
15.1 (59.2) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.9 (71.4) |
21.3 (70.3) |
15.3 (59.5) |
8.8 (47.8) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −24.0 (−11.2) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
−17.2 (1.0) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
3.2 (37.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
10.0 (50.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−16.0 (3.2) |
−18.0 (−0.4) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 18 (0.7) |
12 (0.5) |
15 (0.6) |
18 (0.7) |
13 (0.5) |
12 (0.5) |
10 (0.4) |
8 (0.3) |
7 (0.3) |
13 (0.5) |
22 (0.9) |
21 (0.8) |
169 (6.7) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.5 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 32.5 |
| Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA[12] | |||||||||||||
Economy
editIndustry
editMajor industry of the city remains hydrocarbon production as one of the biggest producing regions of the country. In addition to its strategic location as the main seaport, Aktau attracted the biggest players of the oil service industry:
- SchlumbergerCaspian geomarket main base and pumps manufacturing
- Baker HughesCaspian geomarket main base
- HalliburtonKazakhstan main base
- Weatherford InternationalKazakhstan main base
- Cameron InternationalKazakhstan main base
- Tenarispremium pipes threading facility[13]
- Arcelor Mittalpipelines manufacturing
Former nuclear power plant
editAktau was once the site of a nuclear power station. TheBN-350fast reactorwent online in 1973, and was shut down in 1999. The long-term plans of the Government of Kazakhstan include the construction of a new nuclear power station to be built near the site. In addition to producingplutonium,BN-350 was used to provide power and fordesalinationto supply fresh water to the city. The current station is not considered powerful enough to supply the fresh water and energy needed at this time, and blackouts are a common occurrence.[14]
Culture
editTourism
editAktau'sbeachesare a major tourist attraction, and are most commonly visited from late May to late August, amid warmer weather.[15]During this time, the water temperature of theCaspian Seais typically around 18 °C (64 °F).[15]Aktau has both rocky hills and sandy beaches along the seashore.[citation needed]Tourists come mainly from other parts of Kazakhstan.[citation needed]Major hotels in Aktau include the Aktau Hotel, theRenaissance Aktau,the Caspian Riviera Grand Palace, the Grand Hotel Victory, Grand Nur Plaza, and theHoliday Inn Aktau.[15]In 2021, it was announced that three rare species of palms with resistance to freezing are being grown as part of an experiment in the Aktau region. The experiment is being performed by the city'sMangystau Experimental Botanical Garden.[16]
Other sights include:
- World War II Eternal Flame Memorial in a shape reminiscent of a traditional yurt
- MiG Monument at the Victory Mall
- Regional Studies and History Museum
- The Drama Theatre
- Yntymak Square
- Monuments of Famous people of the past: Kashagan, Zhalau Mynbayev and Taras Shevchenko
Sports
editAktau is the home of football clubFC Caspiy.The club's home ground isZhastar Stadiumwhich has a capacity of 5,000. In 2019, they finished 2nd place in theKazakhstan First Divisionand gained outright promotion to theKazakhstan Premier League,the top division of football in Kazakhstan.
Religion
editThe Mosque of Chahbagota is notable for having the portrayal of man's palm represented on the walls of this mosque with lotus flowers,[17]an oddity given that Islam has prohibited the depiction of humans or portions of their bodies.
Transportation
edit
Air
editAktau has aninternational airportthat was built in 1996.[18]
Sea
editAktau is home toPort Aktau,an internationalseaport.[19]Since the early 2000s,[20]Kazakhstan's government has been implementing policies aimed at attracting investors and customers to the port. It has been attempting to halt the transit of grain through the Black Sea and instead use routes over the Caspian or via Turkmenistan. In 2015, Port Aktau was expanded to accommodate ever larger quantities and more diverse types of cargo.[21]The intent is for cargo to transit by ship over the Caspian Sea and then by rail through Azerbaijan and Georgia for delivery in Turkey and beyond. This new route was made possible by the opening of a railway connecting Georgia and Turkey in 2014.[22]Government authorities announced plans to expand the port further in late 2022, stating it will "improve capacity by more than 500 percent" by 2025.[20]The port has received increased interest from international companies looking for routes to bypassRussia,following the outbreak of theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[20]
Rail
editThe nearest train station isMangystau station,in the suburb ofMangystau,about 20 kilometres (12 mi) away from Aktau's city center.[15]The rail station is connected to the city center viashuttlebus.[15]Trip from Aktau to Astana will take around 2 days, and to Almaty around 3 days.[citation needed]
Road
editTwin towns and sister cities
editAktau istwinnedwith:
References
edit- Citations
- ^"New mayor of Aktau named".inform.kz. July 16, 2024.
- ^Об изменении численности населения Мангистауской области в разрезе городов и районов с 1 января 2023 года до 1 сентября 2023 года[On changes in the population of the Mangystau Region by city and district from January 1, 2023 to September 1, 2023] (in Russian).Committee on Statistics of Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.RetrievedOctober 15,2023.
- ^"Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab".hdi.globaldatalab.org.Archivedfrom the original on September 23, 2018.RetrievedJuly 21,2021.
- ^DOSM."Department of Statistics Kazakhstan".stat.gov.kz.Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2024.RetrievedMarch 1,2023.
- ^"Aktau city, Kazakhstan facts, history, attractions, photos".About Kazakhstan.RetrievedDecember 29,2015.
- ^ab"Aktau: Years, people, memories".Ogni. October 13, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon June 18, 2018.RetrievedJuly 4,2012.
- ^abПионеры Запада(in Russian). Np.kz. February 28, 2003. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 23,2015.
- ^abcPospelov, p. 25
- ^"Ambitious Aktau-City project scrapped".Ақ Жайық(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2020.RetrievedNovember 14,2018.
- ^Lada.KZ."Айдарбаев: Актау-сити не будет".lada.kz.RetrievedApril 19,2018.
- ^"Weather and Climate- The Climate of Aktau"(in Russian). Weather and Climate (Погода и климат).
- ^"World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020"(CSV).National Centers for Environmental Information.RetrievedAugust 2,2023.
- ^"Tenaris to build new facility".Tenaris. July 9, 2014.
- ^"Securing the Bomb: Securing Nuclear Warheads and Materials: BN-350 Spent Fuel Security".March 8, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon March 8, 2008.RetrievedNovember 14,2018.
- ^abcdefLeandoer, Frol (November 9, 2017)."Aktau – city by the sea".The Astana Times.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^November 2021, in Society on 28 (November 28, 2021)."Daring Experiment: Rare Species of Palms Grown in Aktau".The Astana Times.RetrievedDecember 8,2021.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"Aktau".Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2021.RetrievedApril 2,2021.
- ^"About Us".Aktau International Airport.RetrievedMarch 29,2020.
- ^"About the port".portaktau.kz.Port Aktau.Archivedfrom the original on November 21, 2023.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^abcAlejandro Sánchez, Wilder (May 9, 2023)."Kazakhstan's Ports: A Vital Node of the Middle Corridor".The Diplomat.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^"Expansion of Aktau seaport goes according to schedule: Kazakhstan Temir Zholy".Tengri News. June 25, 2015.RetrievedDecember 29,2015.
- ^"Kazakhstan to Leave Black Sea Grain Route".The Gazette of Central Asia.Satrapia. August 8, 2012.RetrievedAugust 8,2012.
- ^Korablev, Sergey (November 19, 2023).Два новых автобусных маршрута запустили в Актау[Two new bus routes launched in Aktau].lada.kz(in Russian).Archivedfrom the original on November 21, 2023.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^"Goroda Pobratimyi".Aktau.gov. Archived fromthe originalon November 29, 2014.RetrievedMay 4,2015.
- Sources
- Е. М. Поспелов (Ye. M. Pospelov). "Имена городов: вчера и сегодня (1917–1992). Топонимический словарь." (City Names: Yesterday and Today (1917–1992). Toponymic Dictionary. "Москва," Русские словари ", 1993.
External links
edit
Aktautravel guide from Wikivoyage- Official website of Aktau[permanent dead link](in Kazakh)
