The main tourist centres and attractions of C.I.S


Almaty
Bishkek
Kiev

Lvov
Minsk
Odessa

Tashkent
Yalta

See also: The main tourist centres and attractions of Russia

 

Almaty

Almaty is situated in the southern part of the republic of Kazakhstan at the foorhills of the northern spurs of Tian Shan, at the height of 750-880 meters above the sea level. The climate of Almaty and its environs is continental with hot summers and rather cold winters. The average temperature of January is –10°, and of July +24° Centigrade. The city was founded in 1854 on the site of the military fortress. Today Almaty is one of the most beautiful cities of the world and is famous for its original national style of architecture. Almaty is also well known for its apple orchards. Translated from Kazakh “ Almaty” means “father of apples”. The city looks very attractive at the background of the of Ala-Tau peaks, with numerous mountain rivers running through the slopes to the picturesque valleys.

Bishkek

Bishkek is the capital of an independent Republic of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. The modern city appeared on the site of an old settlement at the trade crossroads leading from the North to the Tibet mountains. The city was called Bishkek in 1991. It was founded in 1825 as part of the Kokand state; before 1926 the city was called Pyshpek, and then was renamed for Frunze in honour of a prominent Soviet military commander Frunze who was born there.

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Bishkek is one the most beautiful cities in Central Asia and can be rightly called the of gardens.

Kyrgystan is a country of diverse and rich nature. 75 per cent of its territory is taken by magniticient Tian Shan and Altai mountains with their striking beauty and numerous mountainous rivers and lakes. There is the Ala-Aricha canyon 40 km away from Bishkek, which is famous for unique landscapes, waterfalls and rocks, diverse flora and fauna and clean air.

Not from the capital there is a beautiful lake of Issyk-Kul, which is often called a beautiful pearl. The lake is located at the altitude of 1608 m above the sea level. The lake is the second largest in the world after the lake of Titikaka in South America and is the deepest among the world high mountainous lakes.

Issyk-Kul, “hot lake” in Kyrgyz language, its water never freezes in winter and bathing period lasts until late autumn. The beauty of Issyk-Kul is described in numerous songs and legends. Blue water and golden sand beaches of the lake, curable mineral salts made Issyk-Kul the ideal place for rest and treatment.

Lvov

Lvov is one the most beautiful Ukrainian cities. It is situated on Volinsko-Podolsky Hills. The city was founded in 1256 by Galitsko-Volinsky prince Daniil and was named after his son. The city grew very rapidly and turned into one of the wealthiest cities of Galitsko-Volinsky principality. The symbol of the city is a lion — the king of animals. One can see the depiction of lions on the emblem of the city and the facades of the buildings.

In the course of its long history the city was a scene of wars, sieges and assaults but it preserved its romantic image: unique architectural and historical monuments, original dwellings of medieval city, abundance of greenery.

Dozens of talented architects left their autographs in the architectural appearance of the city. Many buildings of the 14–16th centuries have come down to our times. Alongside with a Gothic cathedral one can see a splendid Catholic church and an eclectic modern style not far away.

 

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The ancient city center with a market square is a historical-architectural reserve.

Odessa

If you ask any Russian: “What Odessa is famous for?”, the answer would be: “Sun beaches and humor of Odessa citizens.” Really, their humor became one of the main attractions of the city long ago.

Odessa was founded by Russian Fieldmarshal Suvorov in 1794 on the site of the Turkish fortress Hadzhibey.

Odessa is the pearl of souhern Ukraine. Many holidaymakers admire its beautiful streets and architectural cites. The most famous of them are the Opera Theatre, Primorsky Boulevard, as well as Potemkin Steps.

Odessa is a famous Black Sea port with a unique climate, sun beaches and bays with medicinal muds.

Yalta

Yalta — the most popular resort in the Crimea — was founded by ancient Greeks on the Black Sea coast. The Greeks called the settlement, which they founded, Yalta (from “Yalos,” the Greek word for a “shore”).

The first written mention of Yalta dates back to the 12th centure; an Arab geographer described it as a Byzantine port and fishing settlement. In the 14th century a considerable part of the Crimean coast including Yalta fell into the power of Genoese colonists.

Turkey put an end to this feud. Turkish forces seized the Genoese colonies in the 15th century. Yalta belonged to them up the 18th century, when the Crimea became part of the Russian Empire. Surrounded by orchards, the village grew rapidly and in 1838 Yalta became a city and began to develop as a resort. By the end of the 19th century it has become a well-known fashionable holiday resort.

Yalta is one of the reserves of the Crimean Peninsula where an execellent climate and nature unfold before you the scenes of striking and unique beauty.

It is ideally located along the southern coast of the Crimea and well protected from northern winds by the Crimean Mountains. A mild subtropical climate, therapeutic effects of the air and a long bathing season attract a lot of tourists to Yalta.

The monthly average temperature of the sea water in summer is +26°C.

A magnificent view of the Black Sea and the Crimean Mountains as well as historical, archeological and architectural monuments attract holidaymakers.

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Livadia, the summer residence of the last Russian emperor, located 3 km from the city, with its Grand Palace, where the historical Crimean Conference was held in 1945, the Alupka Palace of Count Vorontsov, Bakhchisarai - the former capital of the Tatar Khans - and the famous castle called the Swallw’s Nest (Lastochkino Gnezdo) are the main attractions of Yalta.


See also: The main tourist centres and attractions of Russia



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