List of World Heritage Sites in Kazakhstan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by countries which are signatories to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.[1] Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage.[2] Kazakhstan accepted the convention on 29 April 1994.[3]

There are six World Heritage Sites listed in Kazakhstan, with a further 13 on the tentative list.[3] The first site inscribed to the list was the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, at the 27th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris in 2003.[4] TThree sites are transnational: Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor is shared with China and Kyrgyzstan, Western Tien-Shan with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and the Cold Winter Deserts of Turan with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Three sites are cultural while Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan, Tien-Shan, and the deserts of Turan are natural.[3]

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.[5]

  * Transnational site
World Heritage Sites
Site Image Location Year listed UNESCO data Description
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi A large brick mausoleum with blue domes Turkestan 2003 1103; i, iii, iv (cultural) The mausoleum, dedicated to the 12th century Sufi mystic Ahmad Yasawi, was built between 1389 and 1405 during the rule of Timur. Even if the mausoleum remains partially unfinished, it is one of the largest and best-preserved Timurid buildings. It was also a prototype for later Timurid buildings, especially in the capital Samarkand.[6]
Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly Petroglyphs depicting animals Almaty Region 2004 1145; iii (cultural) Petroglyphs in the Tanbaly Gorge in Chu-Ili mountains depict humans, animals, and religious figures. They date from the second half of the second millennium BC to the beginning of the 20th century and provide insight into the life of pastoral communities that lived in the region. A number of tombs, kurgans, and enclosures from Bronze and Iron Age have also been found in the area.[7]
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan Marshes and a lake Almaty Region 2008 1102; ix, x (natural) Saryarka comprises two areas, Naurzum Nature Reserve and Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve (pictured), that protect the largely undisturbed Central Asian steppe, lakes, and wetlands. These habitats are an important stopover for migratory birds and provide sanctuaries for a large number of threatened species, including Siberian white cranes, Dalmatian pelicans, Pallas's fish eagles and Saiga antelopes.[8]
Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor* Map of Eurasia with silk roads marked several sites 2014 1442; ii, iii, v, vi (cultural) Silk Road is an ancient network of trade routes that started forming in the 2nd century BCE and remained active until the 16th century. The roads connected societies of Asia, the Subcontinent, Central Asia, Western Asia, and the Near East. In addition to exchange of goods, they also contributed to the spread of technologies, ideologies, and religions, including Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism and early Islam. Several towns and supporting infrastructure have been constructed along the routes. This World Heritage site covers the corridors from Chang’an/Luoyang, the Han and Tang capitals of China, to the Zhetysu region of Central Asia, and is shared with China and Kyrgyzstan. Eight sites in Kazakhstan are listed.[9]
Western Tien-Shan* Mountain scenery with a canyon several sites 2016 1490; x (natural) The property, shared with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, covers the western part of the Tian Shan mountain range. It is rich in biodiversity and a number of cultivated fruit crops originate from the area. Mountain peaks reach above 4,500 metres (14,800 ft). Seven sites are listed in Kazakhstan, Aksu Canyon is pictured.[10]
Cold winter deserts of Turan* Desert scene with some rocks Jetisu Region, Kyzylorda Region 2023 1693; ix, x (natural) This property, shared with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, comprises 14 sites that represent the ecosystems of Central Asian deserts with harsh continental climate with very cold winters and hot summers. The deserts are home to numerous plant species, as well as saiga antelope and goitered gazelle. Five areas are listed in Kazakhstan: Kaskakulan, Barsa-Kelmes Nature Reserve, and three sites in the Altyn-Emel National Park (pictured).[11]

Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.[12] Kazakhstan lists 13 properties on its tentative list.[3]

Tentative sites
Site Image Location Year listed UNESCO criteria Description
Turkic Sanctuary of Merke Jambyl Region 1998 (mixed) The burial and ritual complex represents different stages of history of Turkic peoples, from nomadic tribes to First Turkic Khaganate. It is located at an elevation of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), and has been well preserved due to its remote location. More than 170 monuments, some containing steles, have been found spread over the mountain plateau.[13]
Northern Tyan-Shan (Ile-Alatau State National Park) A mountain lake Almaty Region 2002 x (natural) The national park in the northern Tian Shan mountains (the Trans-Ili Alatau range) features woodlands, alpine meadows, over 300 glaciers, and mountain lakes (Big Almaty Lake pictured). The park is home to snow leopards, Turkestan lynx, Tian Shan brown bears, beech marten, Siberian ibexes, bearded vultures, golden eagles, as well as numerous butterfly species.[14]
Abylaikit Monastery East Kazakhstan Region 2021 iii (cultural) The Buddhist monastery of Abylaikit was built in the Tibetan-Mongolian style in the 1650s. About twenty years later it was destroyed during internal struggles of the Dzungar Khanate, rebuilt, and then remained active until the 1720s. While active, it was the biggest religious and cultural centres in the region and housed a large library of Buddhist texts and relics. Letters from the monastery served as an introduction to the region and to the Vajrayana tradition to Europeans.[15]
Cultural Landscape of Ulytau A brick mausoleum with a blue roof Ulytau Region 2021 v (cultural) The Ulytau Mountains were home to several nomadic cultures, including the Oghuz Turks and the Kipchaks. With the arrival of the Mongols, the area became the burial ground for the descendants of Genghis Khan and the rulers of the Golden Horde (the mausoleum of Jochi pictured), as and later the centre of the Kazakh khans . The cultural landscape comprises remains of ancient settlements, fortifications, burial mounds, and rock art sites, well-integrated into the surrounding natural landscape.[16]
Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Arpauzen Turkestan Region 2021 ii, iii (cultural) Arpauzen comprises remains of ancient settlements, burial grounds, and 30 sites with petroglyphs. They date to the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age, with the earliest petroglyphs dating to the first half of the second millennium BCE. One of the series of carvings represents camels, horses, and bulls. They were created by the people of the Andronovo culture moving south from central Kazakhstan.[17]
Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Eshkiolmes Almaty Region 2021 iii (cultural) Eshkiolmes has some of the largest and best-studied petroglyph collections in Kazakhstan. There are three distinct styles from three periods. The Bronze Age ones depict dynamic scenes of battles and cattle raids, with warriors, archers, and battle chariots. The Iron Age ones focus more on animals and less on human figures. The ones from the Middle Ages depict battles and scenes from daily life of nomadic communities.[18]
Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Kulzhabasy Zhambyl Region 2021 iii (cultural) The petroglyphs at Kulzhabasy were created during six successive periods and provide insight into the lives of different societies. The first two phases, in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE, are characterized by the depictions of animals, such as bulls and aurochs. Later periods saw the motifs of wheels, chariots, and domesticated animals. In the last two phases, the quality and number of petroglyphs declined, with the latest dating to the 14th century CE, in the Medieval period. The main concentration of rock art in the area was discovered relatively recently, in the early 2000s.[19]
Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Sauyskandyk Kyzylorda Region 2021 ii, iii (cultural) Petroglyphs at Sauyskandyk, in the Karatau Mountains, date to different historic periods, from the 2nd millennium BCE to the early 20th century. They document the historical evolution of esthetic norms of nomadic societies. The cultural landscape also includes burial and ceremonial sites and traditional Kazakh houses from the late 19th and early 20th century.[20]
Rocky Mosques of Mangyshlak Peninsula A hill with some walls and steps leading to a mosque Mangystau Region 2021 iii (cultural) This nomination comprises five mosques and adjacent necropolises in the Mangyshlak Peninsula. They date to different periods, with the earliest sites containing tombs from the 8th century while the most recent are from the early 20th century. The mosques are named after the local Sufi saints are popular pilgrimage sites. The mosque of Beket-ata is pictured.[21]
Silk Roads: Early Period (Prehistory) Almaty Region 2021 ii, iii (cultural) This nomination comprises three sites (Besshatyr, Boralday, and Esik), belonging to the Saka nomadic civilization of the 5th to the 3rd centuries BCE. The archaeological excavations of the tombs, kurgans, uncovered items such as the Chinese silk and Iranian carpets This indicates that the trade with these regions predated the formation of the Silk Road with the travels of the Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian in the 2nd century BCE.[22]
Silk Roads: Fergana-Syrdarya Corridor People looking at ruins in a desert Kyzylorda Region, Turkestan Region 2021 ii, iii, v (cultural) This nomination comprises the sites along the Silk Road that was connecting the Fergana Valley and Zhetysu Region at one side with the Aral Sea at the other side. The caravan route passed through desert, semi-desert, and steppe landscapes, with river valleys and oases. Nine archaeological sites of ancient settlements are listed, including the Otrar oasis (pictured). Excavations at the sites started in the 20th century.[23]
Silk Roads: Volga-Caspian Corridor Ruins at a body of water Atyrau Region, Mangystau Region, West Kazakhstan Region 2021 ii (cultural) This nomination comprises the sites along the Silk Road that were connecting the Aral Sea with the Caspian Sea and further along the Ural and Volga rivers. The oldest settlement, Kyzylkala, dates to the 10th century, and was abandoned in the 13th century. Saray-Jük (ruins pictured) was an important spiritual centre of the Golden Horde. It declined after the sacking by the Cossacks in the 16th century. Zhayik was occupied between the 13th and 15th centuries.[24]
Ustyurt: Natural Landscape and Aran Hunting Traps Mangystau Region 2021 iii, v, viii (mixed) The hunting traps, called aran, were in use in the Ustyurt Plateau from the Bronze Age to the modern period. Taking advantage of the rocky landscape with canyons, cliffs, and holes, people constructed stone corrals to guide packs of wild animals to the trap holes. They were hunting saiga antelopes, mouflons, and goitered gazelles. The area is also important from the geological point of view, containing marine fossils from the Cretaceous period and traces from the animals from the Miocene to Pleistocene periods.[25]

References

  1. ^ "The World Heritage Convention". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Kazakhstan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Report of the 27th Session of the Committee". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  5. ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre – The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape of Tanbaly". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Western Tien-Shan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Cold winter deserts of Turan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Tentative Lists". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  13. ^ "Turkic sanctuary of Merke". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Northern Tyan-Shan (Ile-Alatau State National Park)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Abylaikit Monastery". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Cultural Landscape of Ulytau". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Arpauzen". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Eshkiolmes". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Kulzhabasy". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Sauyskandyk". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Rocky Mosques of Mangyshlak Peninsula". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Silk Roads: Early Period (Prehistory)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Silk Roads: Fergana-Syrdarya Corridor". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Silk Roads: Volga-Caspian Corridor". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Ustyurt: Natural Landscape and Aran Hunting Traps". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 February 2023.