Photo credits

Photographs used on this site and their licences

Last reviewed on 2 November 2026

The photographs on Welcome to Kazakhstan come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the Creative Commons or public-domain licences their photographers chose. Each image below links to its original file page, where you can find the full licence terms. Images have been resized; no other changes were made.

If you are the author of one of these photos and would like the credit changed, contact us.

PhotoSubjectPhotographerLicence / source
Dead spruce trunks rising from the turquoise water of Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan Dead spruce trunks rising from the turquoise water of Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan Inverseharpy CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Kaindy underwater forest under a cloudy sky, with spruce-covered slopes behind Lake Kaindy underwater forest under a cloudy sky, with spruce-covered slopes behind Katariyakartikey CC0
Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan: bleached tree trunks standing in blue water below snowy peaks Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan: bleached tree trunks standing in blue water below snowy peaks Anna Powaska CC BY-SA 4.0
Close view of Lake Kaindy: green shallows and submerged trunks seen through birch branches Close view of Lake Kaindy: green shallows and submerged trunks seen through birch branches Jonas Satkauskas CC BY-SA 2.5
Mirror reflection of the sunken forest in calm Lake Kaindy water Mirror reflection of the sunken forest in calm Lake Kaindy water Urker1 CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Kaindy in winter, frozen and snow-covered with trunks locked in the ice Lake Kaindy in winter, frozen and snow-covered with trunks locked in the ice MariSimonova CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Kaindy after rain, the water turned emerald green Lake Kaindy after rain, the water turned emerald green Katariyakartikey CC0
Rocky Caspian Sea shore and lighthouse in Aktau, Kazakhstan Rocky Caspian Sea shore and lighthouse in Aktau, Kazakhstan AnastassiyaL CC BY-SA 3.0
Sunset over the Caspian Sea from the Aktau coast Sunset over the Caspian Sea from the Aktau coast Rassim CC BY-SA 4.0
Chalk cliffs and pinnacles of the Boszhira valley, Mangystau, near Aktau Chalk cliffs and pinnacles of the Boszhira valley, Mangystau, near Aktau Максат79 CC BY-SA 4.0
Shymkent city sign on Beibitshilik avenue Shymkent city sign on Beibitshilik avenue Davide Mauro CC BY-SA 4.0
Ordabasy Square monument in Shymkent lit up at night Ordabasy Square monument in Shymkent lit up at night Rassim CC0
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan with its turquoise ribbed dome Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan with its turquoise ribbed dome Petar Milošević CC BY-SA 4.0
The unfinished portal and blue domes of the Yasawi Mausoleum, Turkestan The unfinished portal and blue domes of the Yasawi Mausoleum, Turkestan Adam Harangozó CC BY-SA 4.0
Almaty city lights at night seen from Kok-Tobe hill Almaty city lights at night seen from Kok-Tobe hill Original photograph by Edgarpo01 Edited by Tiouraren CC BY-SA 3.0
Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral in Panfilov Park, Almaty Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral in Panfilov Park, Almaty Stomac CC BY 3.0
Astana skyline reflected in the Ishim river embankment Astana skyline reflected in the Ishim river embankment Vmenkov CC BY-SA 3.0
Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan, with the trail winding between red rock towers Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan, with the trail winding between red rock towers Bgag CC0
Red sandstone formations in Charyn Canyon Red sandstone formations in Charyn Canyon Adam Harangozó CC BY-SA 4.0
Turquoise Big Almaty Lake surrounded by spruce forest and mountains Turquoise Big Almaty Lake surrounded by spruce forest and mountains Tore Khan CC BY 2.0
Snowy peaks reflected in Big Almaty Lake Snowy peaks reflected in Big Almaty Lake Exxocette CC BY-SA 4.0
The Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Kazakhstan The Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Kazakhstan Sane4o CC BY-SA 4.0
Lower Kolsai Lake in turquoise water between forested Tien Shan slopes Lower Kolsai Lake in turquoise water between forested Tien Shan slopes Inverseharpy CC BY-SA 4.0
Lower Kolsai Lake from the road above Saty Lower Kolsai Lake from the road above Saty Katariyakartikey CC0
Middle Kolsai Lake with driftwood and spruce forest Middle Kolsai Lake with driftwood and spruce forest Jjm2311 CC BY-SA 4.0
Ski slopes and chairlift at Shymbulak resort above Almaty Ski slopes and chairlift at Shymbulak resort above Almaty Matti Blume CC BY-SA 4.0
Medeu-Shymbulak cable car cabin above the valley Medeu-Shymbulak cable car cabin above the valley Matti Blume CC BY-SA 4.0
Aerial view of Lake Borovoe (Burabay) and its granite rocks in Burabay National Park Aerial view of Lake Borovoe (Burabay) and its granite rocks in Burabay National Park Kalabaha1969 CC0
Lake Burabay with Kokshe mountain behind Lake Burabay with Kokshe mountain behind Noiembrie CC BY-SA 4.0
Aisha Bibi Mausoleum near Taraz, Kazakhstan Aisha Bibi Mausoleum near Taraz, Kazakhstan Дмитрий Кошелев CC BY-SA 4.0
Beshbarmak, the Kazakh national dish of boiled meat on flat noodles with potatoes Beshbarmak, the Kazakh national dish of boiled meat on flat noodles with potatoes NataAllice CC BY-SA 4.0
Beshbarmak served with horse meat and onions Beshbarmak served with horse meat and onions Peretz Partensky from San Francisco, USA CC BY-SA 2.0
Hazret Sultan Mosque in Astana, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia Hazret Sultan Mosque in Astana, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia t_y_l CC BY-SA 2.0
Kazakh yurts on a mountain steppe pasture Kazakh yurts on a mountain steppe pasture Myrzabek Ozubekov CC BY-SA 4.0
Felt carpets and painted chests inside a Kazakh yurt Felt carpets and painted chests inside a Kazakh yurt Symbat Bolatova CC BY-SA 4.0
Mountain meadow in the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve, Tien Shan, Kazakhstan Mountain meadow in the Aksu-Zhabagly reserve, Tien Shan, Kazakhstan Tomiris CC BY-SA 3.0
The Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon from above in winter, with snow along the trail between red rock walls The Valley of Castles in Charyn Canyon from above in winter, with snow along the trail between red rock walls Maria Simonova CC BY-SA 4.0
Red sandstone walls of the Valley of Castles under a deep blue sky with clouds on the horizon Red sandstone walls of the Valley of Castles under a deep blue sky with clouds on the horizon Lumierren CC BY-SA 4.0
The Charyn River running past green trees below dark canyon walls The Charyn River running past green trees below dark canyon walls Adam Harangozó CC BY-SA 4.0
The Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park rising behind saxaul bushes under a grey sky The Singing Dune in Altyn-Emel National Park rising behind saxaul bushes under a grey sky Marat Rysbekov CC BY-SA 4.0
View along the sand crest of the Singing Dune towards the Kalkan ridge and the plain below View along the sand crest of the Singing Dune towards the Kalkan ridge and the plain below Sane4o CC BY-SA 4.0
Striped red and white clay hills in a gorge of the Aktau Mountains, Altyn-Emel Striped red and white clay hills in a gorge of the Aktau Mountains, Altyn-Emel Saltanat-alikhanova CC BY-SA 4.0
Weathered red volcanic rock in the Katutau Mountains, Altyn-Emel Weathered red volcanic rock in the Katutau Mountains, Altyn-Emel Arba Travel CC BY-SA 4.0
A Kazakh singer in a pink dress and tall headdress performing at a Nauryz concert in front of dombra players in white and gold costumes A Kazakh singer in a pink dress and tall headdress performing at a Nauryz concert in front of dombra players in white and gold costumes Stomac CC BY-SA 3.0
Members of the Tatar community in green, pink and gold national costume at the Sabantuy festival in Pavlodar Members of the Tatar community in green, pink and gold national costume at the Sabantuy festival in Pavlodar Graphique38 CC BY 4.0
Bayterek tower lit up at night above the skyline of Astana's Left Bank Bayterek tower lit up at night above the skyline of Astana's Left Bank Matti Blume CC BY-SA 4.0
Khan Shatyr, a giant white tent-shaped shopping centre in Astana, seen from the entrance steps Khan Shatyr, a giant white tent-shaped shopping centre in Astana, seen from the entrance steps Dauren Nabijan CC0
Main prayer hall of the Astana Grand Mosque with the names of Allah in gold on a blue wall Main prayer hall of the Astana Grand Mosque with the names of Allah in gold on a blue wall Lucha CC BY-SA 4.0
View through the glass of the Bayterek sphere towards the towers of Astana's Left Bank View through the glass of the Bayterek sphere towards the towers of Astana's Left Bank Ken and Nyetta CC BY 2.0
Rows of spice and dried fruit stalls seen from above inside Almaty's Green Bazaar Rows of spice and dried fruit stalls seen from above inside Almaty's Green Bazaar Spacekid CC0
Limestone and aluminium facade of the Almaty Museum of Arts Limestone and aluminium facade of the Almaty Museum of Arts Dauren Nabijan CC0
Skaters on the Medeu ice rink with mountains behind, photographed in 2015 before the rink closed for reconstruction Skaters on the Medeu ice rink with mountains behind, photographed in 2015 before the rink closed for reconstruction Naironic1 CC BY-SA 4.0
Vaulted platform of Zhibek Zholy metro station in Almaty Vaulted platform of Zhibek Zholy metro station in Almaty Alex J. Butler from United Kingdom CC BY 2.0