Almaty (formerly Alma-Ata) is the most populous city in Kazakhstan, with more than two million residents.
It lies in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in southern Kazakhstan, near the border with Kyrgyzstan, at an elevation of 700–900 metres (2,300–3,000 feet), with the Big Almaty and Small Almaty rivers running through it. Almaty is the second-largest city in Central Asia (after Tashkent, Uzbekistan) and the fourth-largest in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to 1991 (during the Soviet era) and after independence until 1997, when the capital was moved to Akmola (now Astana). It is classified as a city of republican significance.
Almaty has hosted international events, including the Alma-Ata Primary Healthcare Conference in 1978, the 2011 Asian Winter Games, and the 2017 Winter Universiade. The city was also a contender to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, but ultimately lost the bid to Beijing.
It has been a UNESCO Creative City of Music since 2017, and classified as a Gamma+ level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
Landmarks and attractions in Almaty include the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan; Ascension Cathedral; Green Bazaar; Arbat, a pedestrian area; and Kök Töbe, a hilltop recreation area with views of the city and the surrounding mountains. The city is also home to educational institutions such as Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Kazakh-British Technical University, the International Information Technology University, and Narxoz University.
Status
From 1929 to 1936, the city, then known as Alma-Ata, was the capital of the Kazakh ASSR. From 1936 to 1991, Alma-Ata was the capital of the Kazakh SSR. After Kazakhstan became independent in 1991, the city was renamed Almaty in 1993 and continued as the capital until 1997, when the capital was moved to Akmola (renamed Astana in 1998, Nur-Sultan in 2019, and Astana again in 2022). Since then, Almaty has been referred to as the 'southern capital' of Kazakhstan, whose largest and most ethnically diverse city it remains.
Etymology
The name Almaty has its roots in the medieval settlement Almatau, which existed near the present-day city. A disputed theory holds that the name is derived from the Kazakh word for 'apple' (алма), and is often translated as 'full of apples'. Its former name, Alma-Ata, translates to 'father of the apples'. Its current name could be a pluralisation of a Turkic word for 'father'. It is mentioned in the 16th-century Bāburnāma under the spelling Almatu (Chagatay: الماتو). Its past name was Almatau, meaning 'Apple Mountain'.
There is genetic diversity among the wild apples in the Almaty region; the region west of the Tian Shan mountains is thought to be the apple's ancestral home. Nikolay Vavilov suggested that Malus sieversii is a candidate for the ancestor of the modern domestic apple.
History
Prehistoric Almaty
During the Bronze Age (c. 1000–900 BC), the first farmers and cattle-breeders established settlements in the territory of Almaty. During the Saka period (from 700 BC to the beginning of the Christian era), these lands were occupied by the Saka and later Wusun tribes, who inhabited the territory north of the Tian Shan mountain range. Evidence of these times has been found in the numerous burial mounds (tumuli) and ancient settlements, especially the giant burial mounds of the Saka tsars. The most famous archaeological finds are 'The Golden Man', also known as 'The Golden Warrior', from the Issyk Kurgan; the Zhalauly treasure; the Kargaly diadem; and the Zhetysu bronzes (boilers and altars). During the period of Saka and Wusun governance, Almaty became an early centre of education.
12th–15th centuries
The region comprising modern Almaty and its surroundings was ruled by the Qara Khitai during the 12th century, until they were invaded by the Mongol Empire in 1218. It remained under the Mongols until the disintegration of the empire at the end of the century, after which the region continued to be a part of the subsequent Chagatai Khanate, and later of the breakaway Moghulistan.
This region was an important trade route between the West and East, with cities such as Taraz to the west and Almaliq to the east serving as major stopping points. Its importance declined during the 15th century, however, as a result of Temür's attacks and his shifting of the trade routes southwards, after which the Tarim basin became the centre of Moghulistan. Wars with Timur, the Bukhara Khanate, and the Kazakh Khanate weakened Moghul rule in Transoxiana over the 15th century, and by the early 16th century, the Almaty region had come under Kazakh rule.
16th–18th centuries
The Dzungars invaded, dominating the Kazakh people for a period. The Kazakhs fought to protect their land and preserve their independence. In 1730, the Kazakhs defeated the Dzungars in the Anyrakay mountains, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north-west of Almaty. The Senior Kazakh Horde (Uly Zhuz) held jurisdiction over the region. During the 18th century, the city and region were near the border of the Khanate of Kokand. It was then absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 1850s.
Foundation of Verny
To establish its control of the region, Russia built Fort Zailiyskoe (Russian: Заилийское) between the Bolshaya and Malenkaya Almatinka rivers. Construction began on 4 February 1854 and was largely completed by autumn. The fort was a pentagonal wooden palisade, with one side built along the Malaya Almatinka. Before the end of the year, it was renamed Fort Vernoe (Верное, 'Loyal'), sometimes rendered as 'Vyernoe' at the time. The palisade was eventually replaced with a brick wall with embrasures. The fort's main facilities were erected around the large central square for training and parading.
In 1867, the settlement around the fort had grown so large that it was reorganised as the town of Almatinsk (Алматинск). Before the end of the year, this was renamed Verny (Верный, Vernyj).
On 28 May 1887, at 4 a.m., an earthquake nearly destroyed Verny in 11–12 minutes.
By 1906, the population of the city had grown to 27,000, two-thirds of whom were Russians and Ukrainians.
On 3 January 1911, the city was almost completely destroyed, with over 770 brick buildings collapsing as a result of the 1911 Kebin earthquake.
Soviet era
In 1918, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and the establishment of Bolshevik rule, Soviet power was established in Verny. The city and surrounding region became part of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR). On 5 February 1921, Verny was renamed Alma-Ata—one of the city's historical names—following a joint consultation involving regional government representatives, professional trade associations, and local religious communities.
In 1926, the Council of Labour and Defence approved the construction of the Turkestan–Siberia Railway, a crucial element in the future growth of Kazakhstan, particularly in the east and southeast. The railway’s construction had a decisive economic impact, shaping Alma-Ata’s destiny as the capital of the Kazakh ASSR. By 1930, the highway and railway links to Alma-Ata were completed.
On 29 April 1927, the government decided to transfer the capital of the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from Kyzyl-Orda to Alma-Ata, within the RSFSR. This move attracted increased trade and government personnel, stimulating intensive development in the city.
On 31 January 1928, Leon Trotsky, leader of the 1917 October Revolution, was exiled to Alma-Ata by Joseph Stalin, then head of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) in Moscow. He was accompanied by his wife, Natalia Sedova, and their son, Lev Sedov. In February 1929, Trotsky was expelled from Alma-Ata to Turkey, before eventually going into exile in Mexico City.
Alma-Ata Airport opened in 1930, establishing an air link to Moscow, the seat of the Soviet government. Alma-Ata became the primary air gateway to the Kazakh SSR, a status it retains to this day. The transformation of the town into the capital of the Kazakh SSR was accelerated by large-scale construction of new administrative buildings, government facilities and housing. The Great Purge of 1936–38 extended to the Kazakh SSR, resulting in numerous deaths and consolidating Soviet control over the population. During the 1930s, Kazakh nomads suffered severe starvation following the disruption of their traditional way of life (see: Asharshylyq).
In 1936, the Architecture and Planning Bureau devised a plan to enhance Alma-Ata’s role as the new cultural capital of the Kazakh SSR. The plan built upon the existing rectangular district layout, aiming to strengthen and reconstruct these areas.
World War II
During World War II the government affected the city's population and structures. To better organize the home front and concentrate industrial and material resources, the government evacuated 26,000 people and numerous industries from the European theatre of war. Alma-Ata hosted over 30 industrial facilities removed from the European section of the USSR, eight evacuated hospitals, 15 institutes, universities and technical schools; and around 20 cultural institutions. Motion picture production companies from Leningrad, Kyiv, and Moscow were also moved to Alma-Ata at this time. This brought in so many ethnic Russians that the Kazakhs became a minority in the region. In connection with the formation of the Polish Anders' Army, a Polish diplomatic post was located in the city from October 1941 to July 1942.
Industrialization
During the years 1941–1945, industrial development increased during the postwar years. The population of the city grew from 104,000 in 1919 to 365,000 in 1968. By 1967 the city had 145 enterprises, with the bulk of these being light and food industries.
The main industries in Alma-Ata were: food processing (36% of gross industrial output), light industry (31%), and heavy industry (33%). The main products of the region were:
- Food: Meat, flour and cereals (pasta factory), milk, wines, canned fruit, tobacco, confectionery, alcoholic spirits, beer, yeast, and tea (packaging)
- Light industry: textiles, fur, knitting, carpets, footwear, apparel, printing, and the Almaty Cotton combine.
- Heavy industry: electrical engineering, foundry engineering, car repair, bearing repair, building materials, woodworking, concrete structures and structural elements, and housebuilding.
Urban development
From 1966 to 1971, 1,400,000 square metres of public and cooperative housing were built. Annually, around 300,000 square metres of dwellings were under construction. Most of the buildings constructed during this time were earthquake-proof multi-story buildings. The Soviet government tried to diversify architectural forms to create a more varied cityscape. During this period, many schools, hospitals, cultural, and entertainment facilities were constructed, including Lenin's Palace, the Kazakhstan Hotel, and the Medeo Sports Complex.
The supersonic transport Tupolev Tu-144 went into service on 26 December 1975, carrying mail and freight between Moscow and Alma-Ata in preparation for passenger services; these began in November 1977. The Aeroflot flight on 1 June 1978 was the 55th and last scheduled passenger flight of the Tu-144.
Alma-Ata was the host city for a 1978 international conference on Primary Health Care. The Alma Ata Declaration was adopted, marking a paradigm shift in global public health.
On 16 December 1986, the Jeltoqsan riot took place in the Brezhnev Square (now Republic Square) in response to General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of Dinmukhamed Kunayev.
On 7 September 1988, the subway Almaty Metro project began construction, and the subway was opened on 1 December 2011 after 23 years.
Post-independence
Kazakhstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union on 16 December 1991 (Kazakhstan Independence Day). On 28 January 1993, the government renamed the city from the Russian Alma-Ata to the Kazakh name Almaty. In 1997 the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev approved the decree to transfer the capital from Almaty to Astana in the north of the country.
On 1 July 1998 a law was passed to establish the special status of Almaty as a scientific, cultural, historical, financial, and industrial centre.
The new general plan of Almaty for 2030 was released in 1998. It is intended to create ecologically safe and socially comfortable living conditions in the city. The main objective is to promote Almaty's image as a garden-city.
It proposes continued multi-storied and single-housing development, reorganization of industrial districts or territories, improving transport infrastructure, and expanding the Almaty Metro. The first line of the Almaty metro was launched on 1 December 2011, two weeks ahead of schedule. The extension of the line to Qalqaman was opened in 2015.