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![Abai Qunanbaiuly Soul of Kazakh Culture Aktau](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/E-Pa2_11zon-scaled.jpg)
Abai Qunanbaiuly, the Soul of Kazakh Culture
This mural in Aktau, Kazakhstan, commemorates the 175th anniversary of Abai Qunanbaiuly, a poet, philosopher, and key figure of Kazakh culture. The artwork features Abai alongside his writings,… [...]
![](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/tjk1.jpg)
Cinema Kosmos
The modernist ‘Kosmos’ cinema in Buston (former Chkalovsk), Tajikistan, displays on its façade a spaceship flying towards the outer space. Unfortunately part of the façade is obstructed by a… [...]
![lake surrounded by mountains snow](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/Capture-decran-2025-02-05-a-23.22.02.jpg)
Lake Tulpar-Kol
Deep in the valley, behind the clouds, lies Peak Lenin. On the shores of Lake Tulpar-Kol, there is also a camp, run by the Sary-Moghol CBT (Community… [...]
![Mosiacs Shah-i-Zinda Islam Uzbekistan](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/P1190457_Web_edit-scaled.jpg)
Mosiacs at Shah-i-Zinda
It is typically frowned upon in Islam to depict living beings or humans in artwork. The mosaics of Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, represent symbols that are meaningful… [...]
![](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/02/Yangykala-Canyon-Turkmenistan.jpg)
The disappeared ocean
Hours of driving through the Karakum Desert lead to Yangykala Canyon. Millions of years ago, this mesmerizing natural wonder was the seabed of the ancient Tethys Ocean. [...]
![covered market imposing architecture](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/McMillen1.jpg)
Palais du Commerce
From the top of her very quiet shopping arcade, this young girl dreamily observes the activity of the Mehrgon market in Dushanbe. Built in 2014 to replace the ‘obsolete’ street… [...]
Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine
By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We're independent and we need your help to stay that way!![Bishek Kyrgyzstan Propaganda Billboard Mountain](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/IMG_0880_2.jpg)
On the road to Bishkek
To the south of Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, mountain villages, ski resorts and a slowly rusting old propaganda billboard. Credits : Pierre-Armand Dussex (France) Find… [...]
![A shiny Yuri Gagarin stands tall in the city center of Karaganda.](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Karaganda-1-scaled.jpg)
Cosmonauts in Karaganda
A shiny Yuri Gagarin stands tall in the city center of Karaganda. This monument dedicated to cosmonauts has been erected in 2014 to coincide with the 80th birthday… [...]
![A shepherd on horseback guards his flock in the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan.](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/MG_6930_1-scaled.jpeg)
Monochrome
A shepherd on horseback guards his flock in the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan. Credits : Pierre-Armand Dussex (Switzerland) Find all of our photos of… [...]
![Village Karakul Lake Altitude 4000m](https://novastan.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/01/Jan_Ritter_Bild2-scaled.jpeg)
Karakul Village and Its Lake
A breathtaking view of the picturesque village of Karakul, located at an altitude of 4000 meters, on the shores of the lake of the same name in Tajikistan. [...]
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Victory square
Victory Square is a much-visited place in Bishkek. Its immense esplanade is dominated by the monument to Victory over Nazi Germany and its emblematic tynduk, the zenithal opening of… [...]