Introducing Aktau
Stuck between the desert and the Caspian, hundreds of kilometres from anywhere else of any size, with all its water derived from desalination, Aktau is perhaps the most oddly situated of all the weirdly located places scattered across the former USSR.
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Local uranium and oil finds were the reason Soviet architects began to lay out a model town of wide, straight streets here in 1958. Thanks to the sandy beaches on the blue Caspian and temperate climate (several degrees above zero in January), the place was also developed as an elite Soviet holiday resort.
Now uranium and tourism are in decline, but the oil industry is picking up the slack. With its broad streets, benign climate, seaside location and reasonable standard of living, Aktau is a pleasant town to spend a day or two. More of a reason to come here, though, are the natural and manmade wonders of the surrounding region, Mangistau.
Last updated: Sep 25, 2008
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Re: Azerbaijan visa - where to get it now
by ExploreAzerbaijan 11 September 2011
Here is web of Azerbaijan Consulate in Aktau http://azconsulateaktau.kz/index_r.jsp You can also sent an email to Council azconsul.aktau@g…
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Re: Azerbaijan visa - where to get it now
by ExploreAzerbaijan 10 September 2011
Hi Liz and Chris There are embassy of Azerbaijan in Astana and Consulate of Azerbaijan in Aktau. You can get visas in both places. By…
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RE: Bekdash (Turkmen) - Zhanovozhen (Kazakh) Border Crossing
by Giora 03 September 2011
I've never crossed the border, but I can tell you there's regular public transport in Kazakhstan between Zhenazoan and Aktau. So if you…
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