Postcards 2019 2.docx

Off-road adventures in Kazakhstan: From the Caspian Sea to the Black Mountain Miles of white beaches, sand dunes and blue water. The Caspian Sea offers truly unexpected views. A hundred kilometers from the shore of this sea, which is actually a lake - the biggest lake in the world, you can go into a completely different world. Euronews journalist Marta Brambilla Pisoni explored adventures in Kazakhstan off-road, from the Caspian Sea to the Black Mountain, passing through the Silk Road. The Torysh Valley is a lunar desert, a huge expanse of round stones of all sizes, whose formation remains a mystery to this day.

Pavel Khudyakov, a tourism guide for the region of Mangystau, whose capital is Aktau, took Euronews on a tour of the area. He explains that there are several versions of how these stones were created. One of them is the clash of European and Asian plateaus, which caused an electric charge and gave birth to small stones that grew into larger ones. "The second version is that it was an eruption of a volcano. And that’s how these powerful stones were thrown out of the volcano," he added.

Shymbulak: Year-round adventure paradise for winter sports, hiking and mountain biking Shymbulak is one of the most popular ski resorts in Kazakhstan, not far from the city of Almaty, which is set in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. Euronews journalist Marta Brambilla Pisoni visited the region and explains that at an altitude of 3,200 metres, it is the winter sports kingdom from December to April. In the summer season, the mountains turn into a paradise for lovers of hiking and mountain biking. In the summer, the mountains turn into a paradise for mountain biking

"In Kazakhstan there are many great mountains, just like those in the Alps, perhaps even higher,"Alexandr Gabchenko, a cycling guide in the Almaty region, told Euronews. "But the difference between the Alps and here is that these peaks have never been touched by man. It is still a wild place, where man has not yet had his influence. Here you can see the true wild nature," he added. On the outskirts of Almaty, one can explore the steppe with a buggy, an activity that is becoming more and more popular in this part of Kazakhstan, and enjoy moments of pure adrenaline.

Shymbulak: The most popular ski resort in Kazakhstan and a mountain bikers paradise Not far from Almaty, Shymbulak is a well known ski resort during the winter months and a paradise for those who love hiking and mountain biking in the summer season, explains Euronews journalist Marta Brambilla Pisoni, who visited the region in Kazakhstan. Just forty minutes from the center of Almaty is the Medeu Alpine sports complex, where you can take the cableway to reach the Shymbulak mountain resort, a natural park and the most popular ski resort of Kazakhstan. At the first cableway station lies the real heart of Shymbulak: a hotel, several restaurants and bars. Further up, you get up to an altitude of 3,200 meters, at the foot of a glacier. The view is breathtaking: The peaks have nothing to envy when compared to their European counterparts. In the summer ibex, marmots and small lakes of cold water complete the list of wonders.

Mtirala: Georgian nature at its purest It is pure, unblemished nature... Yet the Mtirala National Park can be found just 40 kilometres from Batumi, the capital city of Georgia's autonomous republic of Adjara. "We’re lucky to have the sunshine: this Adjarian national park, Mtirala, is considered Georgia's rainiest spot of land," said Euronews reporter Denis Loctier, as he explored the region.

In this high humidity, the air is fresh and fragrant with blooming flowers and herbs. It's a protected site for the region’s flora and fauna, including rare and endangered endemic species. "Mtirala translates as 'a weeping mountain'. This place is often clouded in mist and drizzle. That's where the name comes from," explained park guide, Zia Kontselidze. At 1,500 metres above sea level, Mtirala's trails are perfect for hiking, bird watching and adventure tours.

We discovered the best place in the world for scuba divers As part of the series exploring Japan, Euronews went in search of the best place for scuba dive enthusiasts. Okinawa are Japan’s most southern islands and underneath the waters hides a surprise. The water is calm and perfectly clear. When you explore below the surface you find beautiful coral reefs which are teeming with wildlife. There are some species which live in the reefs that are almost impossible to find elsewhere. The sea around Okinawa Islands is incredibly clear and transparent. For our scuba diving trip, we took a ferry from Naha to Kerama Islands — a beautiful whale watching destination — and found a family-owned dive centre at Zamami. #VisitJapanpic.twitter.com/Cp5FNp5Ixo — Denis Loctier (@Loctier) March 12, 2018 Amongst the reefs are clownfish and sea turtles. Our dive guide Yoichi Miyahira explained there is even the chance of spotting some bigger fish: “There are plenty of small islands around here, and the life underwater is extremely diverse. If you sail a bit farther away from inhabited islands, you can even spot humpback whales.”

Falconry: A very ancient tradition in Kazakhstan The golden eagle of the steppe is the symbol of Kazakhstan. It also treads on its flag, as a tribute to the ancient empire of Genghis Khan, who ruled Kazakhstan and had as its banner a blue flag with an eagle in the middle. Hunting with eagles is a traditional form of falconry found throughout the Eurasian steppe and is a very ancient tradition in Kazakhstan. Vladimir Zemblevskiy, a falconer who has been working with birds for 40 years and Executive Director of Burkut Kyran Federation of Kazakh National Sports, showed us how a hunt takes place with the eagle in the steppe, not far from the capital Astana. Vladimir works with Saddaq (a Kazakh name meaning "archer"), a 5-year-old male eagle with a two-and-a-half meter wingspan. Theirs is a special relationship. Vladimir is very proud of Saddaq; you can tell that from the way that he talks to the bird and the way that he looks at it. Vladimir says that he's really grateful to him. "Man cannot teach anything to the eagle. Man can just learn from the eagle. I learn something new from the eagle every day," Vladimir Zemblevskiy told Euronews.

Burabay National Park: Wild nature best explored on horse back Burabay National Park takes its name from the lake and the town nearby. It is the epitome of wild nature: A mosaic of hills, steppes, forests and lakes that stretches out for 835 square kilometers. Euronews journalist Marta Brambilla Pisoni visited the region and explains that the Burabay National Park is the favorite destination for people coming from Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, with many heading there to spend weekends and short vacations. There are numerous fun activities, but the best way to enjoy this wild nature is on horse back. Yerzhan Ilyasov takes tourists horse riding with his young son, Alan, and tells Euronews that anyone can ride a horse after a short explanation lasting just 10 minutes "Tourists appreciate the fresh air and being in contact with an extraordinary beauty, the lake, the mountain, nature, riding a horse," said horse riding guide Yerzhan Ilyasov. In Burabay Park there are 757 species of plants, and thanks to this diversity, the fauna is really abundant.

Kazakhstan off-road adventures: Unique landscapes from the Caspian Sea to the Silk Road Just over 150 km separate Aktau, the biggest city on the Caspian Sea, from SheTpe, the nearest town to the Torysh Valley. It's a unique off-road adventure that takes you through stunning natural landscapes, although the road that connects them dates back to the Soviet era and for the first 100 km, potholes dominate the asphalt surface. It's rare to meet someone on the way. Very few cars, many horses and camels grazing. And, at some remote bus stop, you may be lucky enough to find local women selling camel milk, which is considered a real delicacy by the Kazakhs. The Torysh Valley is strewn with round-shaped rocks and stones of varying dimensions: from the spheres that you can hold in one hand to those that reach up to 3 meters in diameter. There are no studies that prove the exact process of formation of these spheres, nor where they came from, with any precision. The most probable explanation seems to be a process of concretion around a small stone probably of volcanic origin. Given their very friable nature, they are easy to dissect. Inside you can often see the remains of fossils and shells.