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Northern Kazakhstan Travel Guide
Like a painter's masterpiece, the Northern Kazakhstan region lies there in front of us as a palette of exotic species of animal and plant life drawn against a vast backdrop of stunning landscape - snow-capped massifs, dense forests, graceful lakes and unspoiled steppes. Its singular beauty and its status as being an off-the-beaten path destination have made the area a haven for nature lovers and travelers seeking respite from the perpetual hustle and bustle of the city life.
Situated at the northernmost part of the country, Northern Kazakhstan shares a border with its neighbor Russia. Naturally it shares a plethora of Soviet influences, especially in its culture and architecture. It is also the location of the country's new capital, Astana, which grabbed the title from Almaty as per a presidential decree in 1997. The region teems with vast nature preservation areas, most notably the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve and the Naurzum State Nature Reserve. These serve as sanctuary to a host of rare and endangered wildlife, such as forest martens, korsak foxes, grey hares, black grouses and steppe polecats.
Tourists may also visit the remote village of Aristau, literally meaning "double mountain" in the Kazakh language. It is a quaint settlement framed in a cluster of majestic peaks and grassy hills, resting near the banks of the famed Shalkar Lake - a hotspot for people seeking the supposed medicinal healing properties of its waters and soil. The Northern Kazakhstan is also the home to one of the country's most beautiful destinations, the Bayanaul State Natural Park. It is a most unique place in the world that features a concentration of the four kinds of vegetation - namely the meadows, steppes, forests and forest steppes, that are normally found existing independently in different locations. Here you are lucky enough to find them all, in a magnificent blend.
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Night falls on the flourishing and industrious San Gimignano, its 72 towers stand on the low roofs of the houses lit by the moon. This is not a luxury travel spot but is something you don't see every day. In the distance the clatter of hooves echoed tired in the Via Francigena. The hand of the blacksmith stops beating, the frame of the weaver becomes silent, the streets of the tank only a concert ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
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