ity with a population of more than 1 700 000 (one million seven hundred thousand) people, which makes up 9 of Kazakhstans total population. The biggest ethnic groups are Kazakhs and Russians.
Almaty is situated in the mountainous area in the south of Kazakhstan. The climate is humid continental with hot summers and cold winters. The seismic activity in this zone is rather high: six catastrophic earthquakes took place during the last three centuries.
Almaty produces about 20 of the countrys GDP (gross domestic product). One of the largest industries is finance and the city is considered a key financial center in Kazakhstan. Almaty continues to grow. In 2011 the first metro line was opened and in 2015 it was extended.
Sights
There are more than one hundred twenty fountains in Almaty and the most famous is the Oriental Calendar Fountain. Its twelve sculptural figures represent the twelve animals of the Kazakh animal cycle.
Almaty has the highest skating rink in the world. The Medeu is located in a mountain valley almost 1 700 meters above sea level. The high quality of the ice is ensured with the help of a complicated freezing and watering system.
Kok-Tobe mountain is a popular recreation area in the southeast of the city. It has a variety of amusement park type attractions and restaurants. It is connected to downtown Almaty by acable carline. There is also a 372 meters tall TV Towerat the foot of the mountain. It can be seen from most parts of the city.
There is also a ski resort in Almaty - Shymbulak. It is elevated 2200 meters above sea level. From November till May tourists can enjoy many sunny days and a great amount of snow there.
Another popular resort is Big Almaty Lake. It is located in the mountains 2500 meters above sea
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