For a long time, the ferry across the Irtysh River near the village of Kaznakovka was the only connection between the towns on the western and eastern shores of Lake Bukhtarma. The crossing was pleasant, but not always guaranteed, and took at least two hours with the waiting and loading and unloading of vehicles. In winter, it was a 180 km diversions. Some people chose to cross on the ice ….

This crossing will probably soon be history: a road bridge over the river will be inaugurated at the end of 2024, just south of the ferry line.

Credit: Balzhan & Axel Monse (Germany, @infoshymkent)

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