Semey City Tour

Day 1: Semey, Kazakhstan

Semey (formerly Semipalatinsk) is the oldest city of Kazakhstan. It was established as a forepost of Russian empire in time of so called Great Game in Y'1717. Semey is built at both banks of Irtysh river, one of the biggest Kazakhstan rivers. Irtysh comes in from North-West Chinese province named XingJang. In all times this settlement had been (and now too) important part of transit wholesale trade routs. In middle age and earlier by caravans, in our time by ship and traing fr. In its outlook you'll find many features that survived very well through the time of USSR reign and post-soviet devastation. Still there are many old wooden buildings, many significant organizations still occupy premises designed and built through 18-19 centuries. Semipalatinsk hosted worldwide known russian writer Theodor Dostoyevsky after his prison term, two his books had been written here. Another remarkable place of this city is museum of fine arts that contains over 650 paintings of european and russian classic painters. In Soviet time Semipalatinsk was developed very much and added many industrial sites. Still, even 30 years after USSR collapse, Semey continues producing concrete, meat preserves, bricks and assembles passenger buses. But what is more and quite sadly known is former nuclear test site, where USSR carried out 456 nuclear tests, 105 of them aerial and ground ones. Luckily, the city is almost 220 kilometers away and wasn't harmed directly. Though, there are a number of people, who suffered from military activity. Semey (post-soviet name of the city, just short of full name) now is transit point for import-export operations between Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia and Chine. Most of population are sunni muslim, orthodox christians of very moderate or even relaxed practice. Crime rate is moderate to low. The city tour can be easily made on foot. On special request a car may be provided. Visit Semey, we will see much more than I managed to describe here!