Central Asia
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. [...]
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… [...]
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… [...]
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. [...]
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!The Majestic Vobkent Minaret, a Witness to Uzbek History
The Vobkent Minaret, located in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture dating back to 1198. It stands 40 meters tall, though part… [...]
Singing Dunes
This photo captures the Singing Dunes (“Aigaikum” in kazakh) of the Altyn-Emel National Park in winter. It is the perfect spot to admire the peaceful landscape all around.Tourism… [...]
Family outing
A local family visits the site of Merv’s first fortress, walking along its ancient walls. The ancient city of Merv dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. This oasis… [...]
Abai and Semey
Two men walk by the entrance of the Abai Theater of Semey. The theater, built in a typical Soviet modernist style, is named after Abai Qunanbaiuly, or simply… [...]
Quality Requirments
The cattle market in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan starts early in the morning, even in winter. The purchase of livestock and pack animals must be well thought out – knowledge &… [...]
The boy and the mosaic
A boy rides his bicycle past the mosaic facade of a multi-family home on Abuali Ibn Sino Avenue in Dushanbe. This mosaic, designed by Sadukov & Lukovtsev in 1971, celebrates… [...]