UNESCO HERITAGE

Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

The mausoleum has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2003. It is located in the city of Turkestan. The monument was built during the reign of the famous Tamerlane (Timur) at the turn of the XIV and XV centuries. This grandiose structure was erected in honor of the poet and preacher of Sufism Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, who lived in the XII century and was famous in the East. The word "Yasawi" means "from Yasy". This was the ancient name of the city of Turkestan.

In addition to the mausoleum itself, the complex includes a medieval bathhouse, an underground mosque, the mausoleum of Timur's granddaughter, Rabiya Sultan Begim, and other monuments.

Petroglyphs of Tamgaly 

The historical complex was included in the list in 2004. The Tamgaly petroglyphs are located in the gorge of the same name in the Anyrakai mountain range, 170 km northwest of Almaty, in the southeastern part of the Chu-Ili mountains. The monument, discovered in 1957, includes about 5 thousand rock carvings, the origin of which scientists date from the second half of the II millennium BC. to the beginning of the XX century.

The central part of the complex concentrates the largest number of rock paintings and altars, which indicates that this place was used for ritual ceremonies.

Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan

The natural monument was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2008. It includes two reserves, Naurzumsky and Kurgalzhinsky, with a total area of 450,344 hectares. The territory of the reserves is a habitat for many migratory birds, some of which are endangered. These include the Dalmatian pelican, the white-tailed eagle, and the white Siberian crane.

There are two groups of lakes on the territory of this site - with salt and fresh water. This factor determines the diversity of flora and fauna here, adapted to different types of environment.

Silk Road: Network of routes of the Chang'an-Tianshan corridor

In 2014, 8 Kazakhstani sites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as components of the Great Silk Road. The project also included sites in China and Kyrgyzstan.

Among the Kazakhstani monuments are the settlements of Kayalyk, Karamergen and Talgar in the Almaty region, as well as the settlements of Aktobe, Stepninskoye, Akyrtas, Kulan, Kostobe and Ornek in the Zhambyl region.

Western Tien Shan

The western part of the Tien Shan mountain system extends to three countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In 2016, three objects from Kazakhstan were included in the World Heritage List: the Karatau Reserve, the Aksu-Dzhabaglinsky Reserve and the Sairam-Ugam National Park.

The region of the western Tien Shan is of global importance, as it is the place of origin of a number of species of fruit trees and is characterized by a wide variety of forest types and a unique flora.

Turan Deserts 

The Turan deserts of the temperate zone are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023. It is transnational. The deserts are also protected by UNESCO in the territories of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. From Kazakhstan, the Barsakelmes State Nature Reserve and the Altyn-Emel State National Nature Park were included in the World Heritage List.