A European Informational Website
learn more
Almaty (Алматы; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Vernyj, Vyernyi (Верный) in Imperial Russia) is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 2,000,900 (2006) (13% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens.
The name "Almaty" means "rich with apple" or by other opinions "strongest mountain"; the older Soviet-era Russian version of its name, Alma-Ata, originates from a mistake (literally means "father-apple"). In the surrounding region, there is an unrivaled genetic diversity among the wild apples.
The area around Almaty used to part of Chinese territory, but was later transfered to Russian control. A troop of Siberian Cossacks from Omsk founded the fort Zailiysky in 1854 at the foot of the Tian Shan mountain range, and renamed it one year later to Vernyj, a name that remained until 1921. In 1921, the name Alma-Ata ("father-apple") was created by the Bolsheviks. In a devastating earthquake in 1911, almost the only large building that remained standing was the Russian Orthodox cathedral. In the 1920s, after the completion of the Turkestan-Siberia Railway, Alma-Ata, as it was then known, became a major stopping point along the track. In 1929, Almaty became the capital of the Kazakh SSR.
In late 1991, Almaty became the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a designation it kept until 1998, when the capital was moved to Astana. Almaty, however, remains the largest city in Kazakhstan and the country's major commercial center. In 2005, the city launched a failed bid to host the XXII Olympic Winter Games in the year 2014, but was successful in its bid to host the 2011 Winter Asian Games.
The world's largest apple is located in Almaty. A short bus ride into the Tian Shan Mountains brings one to Medeo, a popular tourist destination, with several hotels and an Olympic-size skating rink.
On 21 December, 1991, the Charter that ended the Soviet Union creating the Commonwealth of Independent States was signed there.
Almaty was an official candidate to host the 2014 Winter Olympics[1], but was eliminated from consideration after it failed to be included in the "short list" of candidate cities.