22 Untold Kazakhstan Facts that everyone should know

Kazakhstan is the holiest city of Islam 🕌, and here you will get to see the world’s largest mosque, the world’s highest prayer room, and the site of the largest human gathering in the world 🌍.

With so many exciting things to explore about this beautiful country, it is still one of the most underrated parts of Central Asia. So, let us discuss some of the many interesting Kazakhstan Facts.

Revealing Fascinating Facts About Kazakhstan, the Jewel of Central Asia

The name of the country represents the country’s nomad history

A fascinating fact about the country Kazakhstan is that the word “Kazakh” has a significant meaning. This word means being a wanderer or independent, representing the country’s nomadic history.

The actual meaning of the name Kazakhstan is land of the wanderers, which is a befitting name for the nation, as people and natives in the past lived here as nomads, moving from one place to another.

The longest border in the world is shared between Russia and Kazakhstan.

When the country Kazakhstan was separated from the Soviet Union, the border between Russia and Kazakhstan became one of the longest borders in the world. This border or boundary, which extends more than 7000 km, separates Kazakhstan from Russia 🗺️.

Some believe that this border is the planet’s longest continuous border and the second longest if the total length of the boundary is considered without continuity 🌎; In that case, the first would be the border between the United States and Canada.

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country.

Though it may not sound like a huge deal, considering the size of Kazakhstan, it is a fact of great importance 🏞️. It is the world’s ninth-largest nation and the world’s largest country without access to the ocean.

The primary water resources for Kazakhstan are sourced from lakes, glaciers, and reservoirs.

People of Kazakhstan were the first to enjoy horse rides.

Another important fact regarding Kazakhstan is that it was the first nation to domesticate horses 🐎. This means that the citizens of Kazakhstan were even the first to ride these majestic beasts.

Due to this history, many competitions involving horses occur in the country every year, and even women participate in those events.

Berkutchi is still practiced in Kazakhstan.

Berkutchi is a well-known practice in the country that includes hunting with eagles 🦅. These eagles are trained to catch different prey, like foxes 🦊, rabbits, and small birds. Some hunters even train falcons to perform the same task.

There is a traditional belief or thought amongst hunters about the prey they catch with the help of eagles. It is believed that they need to keep the kill for at least one year to enhance their luck.

Here, 500 Nuclear devices are tested by the Soviet Union.

Kazakhstan has a significant history with the Soviet Union due to its status as a former Soviet republic.

It is not hidden that the Soviet Union tested a minimum of 500 nuclear devices 💣 in this country between 1949 and 1989. These tests are considered comparable to 20,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs collectively ☢️.

One of the top holidays in Kazakhstan is Nauryz.

One of the biggest holidays in Kazakhstan is Nauryz 🎉; it is also essential in many other Asian countries, as it marks the meaning of a new year. This day is held for several days on the spring equinox. The streets of Kazakhstan will be transformed to create a festive mood 🌼.

Guests are taken to the traditional nomad homes, also known as yurts, where local people make dishes 🥘 with seven culturally essential ingredients. Some locals even forgive the debts of others in celebration of the new beginning.

Men of Kazakhstan do not shake hands with women.

This is a famous cultural practice in Kazakhstan because of religious considerations and as a way of showing respect for their modesty.

This is why you will not see a man shaking hands with women to greet them 🤝🙅‍♂️. So, don’t be offended if you are a woman and offer a handshake that is not reciprocated.

The national drink of this country is horse milk.

The national drink of the country Kazakhstan is a unique beverage made with the help of horse milk 🥛🐴. This drink is called kumis and is loved by most adults.

Usually, milk from a male horse is fermented to create this slightly sour drink. According to local traditions, kumis has excellent healing properties that can cure tuberculosis, flu, and many other diseases 🩺.

The national dish of Kazakhstan is Beshbarmak.

Another fascinating fact about the country is its unique food offerings. The national dish of Kazakhstan is Beshbarmak. It is known as “five fingers” by locals because all fingers are used in eating the meal 🍲.

The dish includes large pieces of horse meat or mutton placed on noodles that are boiled adequately in a unique broth or gravy. Vegetables like parsley and onions are added to complete this exciting dish 🍽️.

Here you will get to see snow leopards.

Another top factor about Kazakhstan is that you will see snow leopards here. This shy animal is an endangered animal listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.

Snow leopards are intelligent and beautiful animals. These animals are also rare in other parts of the globe due to their low numbers. Only 3500 to 7000 snow leopards 🐆 can be seen in the wild.

Snow leopards symbolize the country; local people respect this animal for its independence and bravery.

The highest skating rink in the world is here.

A very famous site to visit in the nation is the Medeo Sports Center ⛸️. This is the highest skating rink in the world for adults and kids. This rink’s surface area is vast, stretching almost the size of two football fields.

One of the world’s biggest lakes is Lake Balkhash.

One of the largest lakes in Asia is Lake Balkhash. Expanding 16,4000 km, this lake ranks about 15th in the world in size. Also, a unique phenomenon is occurring at this lake 🌊. One will find salt water on the east side of Lake Balkhash but fresh water on its west side.

Kazakhstan has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Kazakhstan has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Western Tien-Shan, Saryarka, the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, and more.

These are some well-preserved historical sites that will not your surprise you but also provide insights into the past of the country Kazakhstan 🏛️.

In the country, 27,000 monuments are present.

Another exciting fact about Kazakhstan is that are 27,000 monuments scattered throughout the nation, each with a different story 🗿. A few of these are beautiful sites that you may visit to appreciate art and know more about the nation’s history.

One of the top monuments that you must see in the country is the Golden Man 🏅. It is a fantastic Scythian warrior wearing gold armor.

Pricing for taxi system

A fascinating fact about the country Kazakhstan is to know when traveling, there is the traditional taxi system 💰.

Unlike in other countries, where people must follow a meter system for the taxi fare, you should wave to stop a car and then negotiate the price, depending on the destination. Upon reaching a mutual agreement regarding the fare, the driver will take you to the final destination.

Hence, you must sharpen your skills regarding negotiation and have some knowledge of the estimated rate for your trip, eventually avoiding paying a significantly high amount 💸.

Here, Kyz Kuu is a famous competition.

An amusing fact about Kazakhstan is that it is home to a well-known competition called Kyz Kuu. This event, called “Catch the Girl,” involves a woman and a man riding two separate horses 🏇💨. The man must try to get ahead of the girl.

However, if he gets near, the woman can whip the man with a lash. If the man wins the competition, he will get a kiss from the girl. Meanwhile, if the woman wins, she will get to whip the man again.

Kazakh people believe whistling can make you poor.

Folklores and superstitions are vital to every culture and may vary from place to place. An interesting superstition in Kazakhstan is the belief that whistling a tune or a song inside a building will make you poor forever.

You may believe it; many locals are serious about not whistling in a house or a building 🙅‍♂️🎵. So, try to avoid doing this when you are in Kazakhstan.

Here you will see the giant lizard in Northern Eurasia.

Another interesting fact about the nation is that it is home to the largest lizard species 🦎 in Northern Eurasia. The Caspian or Desert monitor lizard goes almost 150 cm in length and can be seen in the western regions of Kazakhstan.

The traditional home for nomads is Yurt.

Yurts are the traditional nomadic homes in the country that women of the family mainly set up. These circular tents can be insulated with skins to keep the place warm.

The flag of the country represents prosperity.

The country’s flag, Kazakhstan, has a sun with 32 beams spreading out 🌞. These beams are essential in local culture, representing the nation’s progress and prosperity.

Kazakhstan is exceptionally ethnically diverse.

While talking about ethnic diversity, the country Kazakhstan is nowhere near lacking. The government is home to almost 120 nationalities and ethnic groups. Following the country’s people, the largest ethnic groups are Ukrainians, Russians, and Uzbeks.

So, Kazakhstan is an integral part of the world with a rich history and culture, beautiful scenery, famous animals, interesting beliefs, large lakes, and many more.

At the end of this article, we learned 22 exciting facts that offer us a clear picture of Kazakhstan. You can see our website if you want to know some additional points.