Kyzylorda, Regional capital in South Central Kazakhstan.
Kyzylorda sits on the banks of the Syr Darya at an elevation of 128 meters (420 feet) above sea level in south-central Kazakhstan. The streets run parallel to the river and residential neighborhoods spread out on both sides of the waterway.
The settlement began in 1820 as the Kokand fort of Ak-Mechet and was later taken by Russian forces. From 1925 to 1929 it served as the capital of the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic before that role moved to Alma-Ata.
The Kazakh theater stages performances in the local language that reflect traditional storytelling from the region. The university brings together young people from across the southern part of the country and shapes daily life through its presence.
The town is connected to other parts of the country by highway M32 and the airport. The river divides the place, so visitors need to use bridges to move between the two banks.
The area hosts the Baikonur Cosmodrome, from which rockets have been launched into space for decades. The surroundings also hold several mausoleums from past centuries that offer insight into Central Asian burial architecture.
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