Kok Tobe
| Kok-Tobe Mountain | |
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Kazakh: Көк-Төбе Russian: Кок-Тобе |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,100 m (3,600 ft) |
| Coordinates | 43°7′47.30″N 76°54′18.20″E / 43.1298056°N 76.9050556°ECoordinates: 43°7′47.30″N 76°54′18.20″E / 43.1298056°N 76.9050556°E |
| Geography | |
| Location | Almaty, Kazakhstan |
| Kok-Tobe Park | |
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Park at night.
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| Type | Urban park, Forest park |
| Location | Almaty, Kazakhstan |
| Created | 2006 |
Kok-Tobe (Kazakh: Көк-Төбе - "Green Hill"; Russian: Кок-Тюбе, Kok-Tyube) is a mountain which is the highest point of Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city. There is a popular recreation area on top of the mountain. The mountain's height is 1100 meters above sea level. Kok-tobe is one of the main landmarks in the city, and it is popular among visitors and tourists to Almaty.
The Kok-Tobe recreational area has a variety of amusement park type attractions and restaurants. It is connected to downtown Almaty by a cable car line. The City Terminal is located near Hotel Kazakhstan. Also, there is a 372 meters tall TV Tower at the foot of the mountain. The tower can be seen from most parts of the city.
Kok-Tobe mountain was originally called Verigin until the 1960's. Before the Soviet Union, the Hill was favorite spot for the inhabitants of the city. During the Summer, the civilians organized May Day celebrations. While during winter, it was popular spot for skiing and sledding. Verny merchants called the mountain "Blue Hill" which is believed that the name origins back to medieval times. After Almaty became the capital of Kazakh SSR, Verigin mountain was originally going to become a governmental place which the architects proposed to build several public buildings on the slope, and at the very top of the mountain such as house of the Supreme Council of Kazakh SSR. However plans were not implemented. During the 1950's the mountain became a relaxation spot for the Soviet Elites. Cottages were built for the academics of the Kazakh SSR, as well as later for the first secretary of the Central Committee, Dinmukhamed Kunayev. Passenger cable way connecting the center of Almaty to the mountain Kok-Tobe was commissioned on November 4, 1967. Surprisingly, the cable car worked with little or no maintenance for almost forty years until mid 2000's. In the spring of 2004, after heavy rains on Kok-Tobe was in state of emergency, on the surface of the mountain significant cracks appeared and began to slip and crumble the soil structure. There was a real threat of a landslide in the residential areas nearby. Former Almaty mayor Zamanbek Nurkadilov decided to close the mountain. In summer of 2004, work began on the reconstructing and strengthening the slope of Kok-Tobe. At the top of moutainn, illegally erected buildings, mostly cafes were removed. Construction workers drilled and concreted 395 wells up to 24 meters. Their main task was to keep the soil from slipping. Cable car and viewing platforms were restored. In 2006, the mountain opened a recreational entertainment center which was the start of Kok-Tobe Park. A Beatles Monument was installed in 2007. In September 2014, the mountain was closed for the purpose of the construction of a new cable car, as well as the reconstruction of the northern side of the mountain and the park. In March 2016, the park completed its construction of the cable car and the park itself was also updated which reopened its doors to visitors. Instead of the two old cable cars, there are now 17 new cable cars. A new Ferris wheel was also installed to the park.
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Wikipedia