Aktau

Aktau is the capital of Mangystau Region in Kazakhstan, a port city on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea with a population of 300,000.

The city was founded in the 1960s after vast uranium reserves were discovered in the surrounding area. During the Soviet era, it was named after the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, who was exiled in this region. Since 1991, the city has been called Aktau, meaning “White Mountain.”

Remarkably, Aktau was established in a waterless area. In its early years, fresh water was ferried across the Caspian Sea from the opposite shore. Only in 1972 was the world’s first nuclear-powered seawater desalination plant built here. Today, the reactor is shut down, and desalination is carried out using modern high-performance systems.

Aktau’s development and prosperity are closely tied to the growth of the oil industry. In recent years, the city has experienced a tourism boom. Visitors come not only to relax on the sandy beaches of the Caspian Sea but also to witness the region’s stunning “extraterrestrial” landscapes and natural wonders, such as the Valley of Stone Balls (Torysh), Bozzhyra, the Valley of Castles (Ayrakty/Sherkala), the vast Tuzbair salt flat, and more.

Attractions in Aktau:
Aktau Promenade – a favorite leisure spot for locals and tourists

“Rocky Trail” along the steep Caspian coastline

Monuments to Taras Shevchenko

MiG-21 aircraft monument on the Alley of Glory

World War II Memorial with the Eternal Flame

Ten-story residential building with a functioning lighthouse on the roof

Botanical Garden

“Columbus Caravel” Monument

Murals honoring women heroes of the Great Patriotic War on the sides of apartment buildings

Regional Musical Drama Theater named after N. Zhanturin

Mangystau Regional Puppet Theater

Regional History and Local Lore Museum named after A. Kekilbayev

In April 2025, Aktau was declared the cultural capital of the Turkic world.