North, East and Central Kazakhstan tours

21/04/2024

20/04/2024

15/10/2023

Another ICBM launcher.
Очередная шахтная пусковая установка.

20/07/2023

Lenin statue in Kalachi village.

10/06/2023

Through 60’s to 80’s an idea of turning Siberia rivers to Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan and Central Asia was widely discussed in USSR. In technical sense creating long canals for new rivers was a part of preparation to this large scale project. In Y’1968 two tests have been conducted at Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. For both tests low capacity charges were used, 0.24 kt (roughly 54 times less than in Hiroshima). Charges were put at the depth of 31 meters that resulted in 70 meters wide and 20 meters deep craters. At first test 1 charge was used, its crater is round. At the second test three charges were about 40 meters from each other, that crater is 140 meters long, 40 meters wide and 16 meters deep.
Due to underground technology of the test, the nuclear fuel was burnt almost fully, so quite a little remainder of it was dispersed around. The contamination around the crater is minor, emissions are within safe range.
Confidence in safety of such explosion was high enough, so film recorders and photo cameras were placed just in 500 meters from the Zero point. The command to start was also released from the same point. To avoid lenses damage very simple but original ways were used.

27/07/2022

Gathering a group to visit former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site.
Unique experience, join in to get better cost!

23/07/2022

These are little known petroglyphs at Bulanty river.

18/07/2022

In Kairakty town previously Tungsten and Manganese were mined. After USSR breakup, people began leaving the town. First, settlers from other republics left. Locals stayed longer, because still some jobs were available. Life of the town was prolonged for several years by efforts of local administration and investment from central government, but in several years even local have gone.
Now the town is literally empty, nobody lives in abandoned microdistricts, only 5-6 families live in tiny village nearby.
Unlike apartment blocks, the school remains in relatively good condition, many items survived well inside, even writing in classrooms or blackboards. I've found an improvised newspaper made for the eve of year 2009. This means that school operated till that time.

18/07/2022

Balkhash town is mainly known for copper production, gold refinery and beaches of Balkhash lake.
In fact, it is much more diverse and interesting.
For example, ruins of space communication station Orbita used for TV, size of copper entreprise, buildings and mural of Soviet epokh.

13/07/2022

The town Aksuek was established in Y'1954 to provide uranium for Soviet atomic industry - weapons, electricity, medicine, agriculture and others. The city was beautiful, but with collapse of USSR citizens left it. Now barely 50 houses are inhabited in formerly big town.
Despite all hardship, people save their sense of dignity, I liked talking to them.

13/07/2022

The town Mirnyi (Peaceful) was known for uranium mining. Since USSR collapsed, uranium quarry shut down and people began leaving the town. Now barely five hundred people live there, but they are organized enough to stop looters from destroying abandoned buildings. Generally, I like their sense of dignity and humour. None of them complained at hardship of life. They look neat, intelligent. The school still operates in the town, kids are very polite. Despite devastation the site still makes positive impression.

24/04/2022

Violet mountains of Akzhar, 3 days 2 nights.
Itinerary:
•The only violet mountians in the world, Akzhar;
• Old lead mines in Shengber;
• Abandoned mosque;
• Medieval mausoleums on the way;
• Museum of mining;
• Fallen parts of rocket.
Please refer to WhatsApp +7 701 788 3579.
Photos rendered by Tatyana Lomonossova
https://instagram.com/lomonosova7552?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

02/09/2021

Buiratau is little known nature park in 330 km from Astana. The land is quite compact, so you are sure to see bizons, deers, mountain goats and - by right season - marmots. The land is little known, so very silent and peaceful. Good to visit before mud and snow are deep as 3/4 of the road don't look like a road at all 😁.

27/07/2021

History constantly fades away. Even 5 years ago much more could be experienced in the land of former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Now all infrastructure is being constantly destroyed. You still can see part of this huge project and realilze its scale and technological advance.
The last week I learnt that long range bombers base was being destroyed by scavengers. Be in time to see history fade!

05/05/2021

What's new about nuclear test site?
"Demolition works" go on. This time I found the bunker for underground test destroyed even more than 6 month ago. Our history is quickly disappearing in regretful way.
I've found few more silos for intercontinental ballistic missiles, they are currently more or less intact but few upper meters of metal are already cut off. Now the body will be destroyed meter by meter for more scrap iron.
Organized greed necessarily defeats disoirganized democracy...

19/04/2021

Still few cold nights are ahead, but it is spring, it is warm. Roads have dried up. If you have some time available, let's go touring.
I am going to collect a team of people going to former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Baikonur cosmodrome, ALZhiR and KarLag museums and Priozersk air defense test site anytime between early May and late October. Common subject is Back In USSR.
Впереди еще несколько холодных ночей, но весна уже пришла бесповоротно. Дороги высохли. Если есть несколько свободных дней, поехали кататься! Хочу устроить тур под общим названием "Назад в СССР": космодром Байконур, бывший семипалатинский ядерный полигон, музеи АЛЖИР и КарЛаг, а также приозерский противоракетный полигон.