LANDS AND PEOPLES/Conclusion of A Visit to Kazakhstan

Rural Kazakh families treasure their horses/  There are at least 21 Kazakh words for horse, each with its own shade of meaning, and more than 30 words and expressions to describe the colors of a horse's coat.  A fine horse still makes a costly and cherished gift.  In the countryside, boys learn to ride from an early age.

A traditional Kazakh meal should always include meat and is usually not spicy.  Among Kazakh's favorite drinks are kourmiss, which is made from mare's milk and is said to provide many health benefits, and rich, slightly sour shubat, made from camel's milk.

The branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses in Almaty welcomes visitors and is open for tours. 

DID YOU KNOW?

At least 36 varieties of wild tulips grow in Kazakhstan, and the tulip shape is a common motif in traditional Kazakh art.

The water of Kazakhstan's lake Balkhash is salty in the eastern part and nearly salt-free in the western part.

Falconry with trained eagles and other birds of prey remain popular. Kazakhs excel in training golden eagles-their favorite species. 

PRINCIPLE LANGUAGES: KAZAKH, RUSSIAN

POPULATIONS: 17,563,000

CAPITAL: ASTANA

CLIMATE: HOT AND DRY IN SUMMER, COLD, AND SNOWY IN WINTER 

Next time: Predicting the Future

From the jw.org publications