Kazakhstan

A Caspian Sea port city and the surrounding Mangystau peninsula, known for its dramatic desert landscapes, chalk mountains, underground mosque at Shakpak-Ata, and the easternmost shoreline of the Caspian.

The world's first and largest space launch facility, operated by Russia on lease in the Kyzylorda steppe since 1955, from which Sputnik 1 and Yuri Gagarin's historic flight were launched.

A cluster of lakes, pine forest and granite outcrops in the Kokshetau highlands of northern Kazakhstan, long valued as a recreation area and now a protected nature reserve with year-round visitor use.

A vast red-rock canyon in the Almaty Region, up to 300 m deep, carved by the Charyn River over millions of years — sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Central Asia.

A high-altitude lake formed by a limestone landslide in the Tian Shan mountains, famous for its submerged dead spruce trees rising from the turquoise water like a natural art installation.

An outdoor speed-skating rink at 1,691 m elevation in the Tian Shan foothills above Almaty, famous for world records set in its cold, dense air and for hosting the 2011 Asian Winter Games.