In the very heart of the golden Sary-Arka , Karkaralinsk is comfortably located . He is sometimes called "Kazakhstan's Switzerland". True, this name provokes protest and even insult among local patriots. Why are their native places compared to Switzerland and not vice versa? After all, Karkaralinsk, the only one, unique and amazing , is the pearl of the planet, not only of Kazakhstan. There are many opinions about the meaning of the word Karkaraly. One of the legends says that the beautiful Bayan dropped her headdress in these parts - dear Karkara. Indeed, these places are like a large precious crown on the head of our mother earth. And further. The concept of Karkaraly-Karkaralinsk is ambiguous. When
so they say, they mean the city itself, and the wonderful nature surrounding it, mountains, forests, valleys, and this whole region, all this land, which stretches from the city for hundreds of kilometers on all four sides.
Many poets , writers and simply in love with him dedicated many enthusiastic words to Karkaralinsk . “Atynan aynalayin, karagaraly ...” (“Your blessed name, Karkaraly” ...), - the proud poet and inspirational rebel Madi confessed his filial love for his native land. So, what is Karkaraly-Karkaralinsk? What is this phenomenon - Karkaraly? Of course, first of all, Karkaralinsk conquers with the beauty of its nature
... The Great Creator left for us this miracle of his creation. Indeed, what quaint mountains! The stone layers, apparently, moved once: like living creatures, they crawled over each other, rose higher and higher, forming gorges, abysses, terraces, cornices and other similar things. The tops of the mountains stand out with intricate shapes, resembling either the figures of animals and people, then stone mattresses and pillows, crenellated towers and something else. The fabulous peaks of the mountains , which are visible from different sides, amaze the imagination . That there is only one peak, which in Soviet years was called the peak of Komsomol, and earlier - "Zhirensakal" (Red Beard). And today people often call it simply: Karkaraly Peak . And what are the names of the mountain peaks: "Shakkuz", "Byly", "Kuktube"! Once again, I want to repeat: the whole chain of our mountains resembles one big karkara - a beautiful headdress. Not far away are the Kent Mountains, and a little further - Balkantau. And everywhere there is unique beauty. And what forests! Pine trees, like living people, climb the mountain slopes to the peaks. Stubbornly they cling to the rocks. And trees grow on the stones! Delicate birches are especially touching against the background of gigantic pines protecting them. In autumn, red aspen leaves burn with bonfires. Kazakh juniper (the local people call it "heather") makes the air healing. Lakes are unique . On the top of the Byly mountains there is a miracle of nature - “Shaitankul” . In the wonderful poem "Slushash" by Sabit Mukanov there are the following lines: Raising a bowl of granite with water, The mountain keeps the lake for centuries, It is called the devil among the people ... There are many legends about this lake. As one of them says, the Creator, in order to save people from the temptations of the evil one, caught him near a high mountain lake, where he indulged, and drowned him. And people began to come here fearlessly to admire the beauty that God created. So the name "Shaytankul" ("Devil's Lake") came after that. And already today, another remarkable poet, Serik Aksunkarov, called this place "Kashyktar Mekeni" ("Abode of lovers"). "Shaitankul" is not the only wonderful place. Each lake in the vicinity of Karkaralinsk is unique in its beauty. Here it seems fantastic lake "pool" , if it is an aquarium in the granite rim. Lake Samal awakens romantic strings in the soul (which also has other names, for example, Pashino, Pashennoye, Grishka kuli) - this is in the area of the Shakhtar rest house. Someone likes the majesty of the Big Lake, others are attracted by the lake "Zhartas", but how can you list everything, each of them is unique! The rivers Zharly, Bolshaya and Malaya Karkaralinka run, overflowing . The springs and springs “Suyk bulak” (“Cold key”), “Mulik sai”, “Aleksandrov key”, “Tas bulak” (“Stone key”) and others murmur and illuminate with sonorous water . And the center of this beauty, its continuation and beginning, an inseparable part of it is the city of Karkaralinsk , which connected with visible threads of roads and invisible threads all the surroundings for hundreds of miles around, all the beauty and riches of this blessed land. But the most important wealth of the Karkarali land is its people . And our contemporaries and our, we hope, descendants, and our distant and close ancestors. From the earliest times, people chose the places where Karkaralinsk later arose for his residence. From time immemorial, people have settled at the foot of our mountains. This is evidenced by legends and stories, as well as historical data. During archaeological excavations, the famous scientist Academician A. Margulan found on the territory of the present city and its environs several sites of primitive man, which are of scientific interest even today. When you walk along Karkaralinsk or walk along a path into the forest, one must not forget that primitive man walked along this path, along this path many thousands of years ago. The sites of the ancient man have survived today in the area of "Suyk bulak" ("Cold Key", another name for "Mukhtarka"), and not far from the complex of the regional hospital, on the right bank of the Karkaralinka river. And in the tract "Mulik sai" traces of the residence of a primitive man were found: their names - "Big chamber", "Three caves". Our very distant ancestor, an ancient man, was not stupid, choosing Karkaralinsk as his habitat. Millennia passed and centuries flew by, but life did not die out around Karkaraly , people have always lived here, and historical events have always taken place here. Until today, the so-called "Kalmyk Wall" ("Kalmak Korgany"), a man-made miracle on our land, is waiting for its research. Who built it? When did you build it? Why did you build it?
Who can say if the legendary Attila did not wrap up his troops here? And did not the hordes of Genghis Khan and his descendants, his sons and grandchildren look here?
And the Dzungars have been on our land. And if they came in peace (which also happened), then the Karkaraly land could also shelter them . This is evidenced by the preserved amazing monument of the Middle Ages - the Kyzyl Kent palace . A folk song announces that a lone pine tree grows on the top of the Karkarali Mountains. This and other songs and legends suggest that Kazakhs have chosen these places since time immemorial. This land gave the world the great son of the Kazakh people, the greatest statesman, the sonorous Kazdauysty Kazybek bi (from his name, a link to his biography) , who can be compared with a mighty age-old tree: the roots of his wise thoughts stretched across the entire Kazakh land, the noble crown of his knowledge overshadowed and dawns on generation after generation. A folk legend has survived that it was in the vicinity of Karkaralinsk, not far from the Big Lake, on the border of the steppe and the forest, that the representatives of the three zhuzes agreed to proclaim the great Ablay as khan. And if this is so, then has not the khan's associate, the wise poet Bukhar-zhyrau, been here ? The great kuishi Tattimbet Kazangapov, an outstanding composer-dombrist, came out of these places . Let us also name the names of akyn Shozhe and the famous speaker Kenzhe bi. And how many other batyrs and biys, and just wonderful people, the ancestors of today's Karkaralins, came out of here, when time called for them and it was necessary to repulse the external enemy - the Dzungar conquerors! With what names of the sons of Kazakh, other peoples these lands are connected! When you walk on the Karkarali land, you don't let go of the thought of how many people (and what people!) Have walked on it. That we are just a small part, a grain of sand in this string, and we are incredibly lucky that we are also connected with Karkaralinsk. Yes, it is here, in the valley of a small mountain river, that there has long been a secluded settlement of people. Caravan routes from Central Asia to Siberia and, possibly, from East to West went through it. It was impossible to pass by such a wonderful and unique lighthouse! And the time has come when it was decided to equip the settlement at this place. When they say that Karkaralinsk was founded in 1824 , this is both true and false. It is not true because, as already noted, people settled here much earlier. But at the same time it is true, since it is this year that the official mention of Karkaralinsk as a settlement dates back to. The sometimes mentioned date April 8, 1824 refers to the grand opening of the Karkaralinsky district and the order. Then, on July 24 of the same year, the ruling Senate was approved and a decree on this event was approved. Since 1827 Karkaralinsk became a Cossack village . Water mills and the first dwellings were built on the right bank of the Karkaralinka River in those years. In 1868, Karkaralinsk was approved as a district town within the Semipalatinsk region. The beautiful white building of the former county council still stands in pristine beauty today; there is now a local history museum. This is how Karkaralinsk in the second half of the 19th century became a large social and political center, many travelers were drawn here; the mysterious edge beckoned, mesmerized. Shokan Ualikhanov, the great son of the Kazakh people, scientist-researcher, full member of the Russian Geographical Society and great-grandson of Khan Ablai, visited this then young city and its environs . It is known that he came to Karkaralinsk two times. The first time - in 1855, when he was 20 years old, and the second time in 1863, two years before his premature death. His descendants were left with his research and immortal descriptions of our places, hand-made labor: a special work called "Winter migrations of the volosts of the Karkarali external district", which an inquisitive reader can find in the third volume of the scientist's collected works. Karkaralinsk is mentioned in the second volume of the "Geographical-Statistical Dictionary of the Russian Empire", published in 1865, published under the editorship of NP Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. The mass reader first learned about the beauty of Karkaraly, about the mysteries of caves and stone fortresses that have not yet been studied. A lot of interesting information was left by the Polish democrat A. Yanushkevich about the Karkarali land. About the father of the great Abai - Kunanbay, he wrote that he was a man "gifted by nature with a healthy mind, amazing memory, the gift of speech, efficient, caring for the welfare of his fellow tribesmen, a great connoisseur of steppe law, a judge of incorruptible honesty and an exemplary Muslim." Yes, Kunanbai, who at one time served as the senior sultan of the Karkaraly district, was a man to whom young and old, poor and rich, from the most distant villages rushed for advice. Abai's father tried to immortalize his name in Karkaralinsk not only with his good deeds, but also with the construction of a mosque. Mukhtar Auezov in his novel "Abai's Way" writes: "... with its construction, Kunanbai won himself universal respect and glory." Residents of Karkarali are rightfully proud that they were able to restore this holy building in its original form. Today the mosque is a place of pilgrimage for believers and everyone who cherishes our history. The history of Karkaralinsk is inextricably linked with the name of Abai. Therefore, the house of the merchant Kh. Bekmetov was restored, where the great poet stayed. This building is a monument of antiquity, history and culture. To this day, if you walk along the streets of Karkaralinsk, the poet's peers have survived - wooden houses that have celebrated their centenary long ago . And today, on a winter day, as during the first arrival of Abai, the mountains and peaks of Karkaraly covered with snow in white malakhai greet travelers. Then Abai will come to the city more than once, and to the famous Koyandinsky fair. The significance of this fair can hardly be overestimated, and not so much as a trade, but as a spiritual center of the Kazakh steppe. It is no exaggeration to say that the Koyandinsky fair was the spiritual capital of the Steppe, Kazakh culture Mecca, where everyone who loves art flocked. At the beginning of the last century, Karkaralinsk entered the life and fate of one of the rulers of the minds of the Kazakh intelligentsia, Akhmet Baitursunov . Today you can walk through the places where the great enlightener walked. In Akterek, the building of the school where he worked has been preserved. Resentment against those in power was reflected in his poem "Farewell, Karkaralinsk ...". In 1909, the wonderful Russian writer Mikhail Prishvin visited Karkaralinsk. Here he heard the legend about Kozy-Korpesh and Bayan-Sulu. Here he admired the most picturesque places. Published several essays and stories inspired by visits to our places. One of his essays is called "Devil's Lake". In another essay, The Black Arab, the author describes local star legends. The writer finishes his work like this: “Whoever saw the stars from the aul, they will always accompany him. Someday I will see the same stars along Nevsky Prospekt ... ”. And the famous traveler, ethnographer Grigory Potanin came to Karkaralinsk in 1913 to study Kazakh folklore. To this day, the house of the merchant Ryazantsev, where the famous scientist stayed, appears before our eyes. Today it houses the regional library. How not to remember Alexander Zataevich, a great ascetic, collector of Kazakh songs. It was here that he recorded the lion's share of his finds - 154 songs. In a letter to the great French writer Romain Rolland, he remarks with admiration: "... I do not dare to describe to you in my helpless French the beauty of the Steppes (especially the famous Karkaraly land ...)". Mukhtar Auezov occupies a special place in the fate of the city. The great writer came to Karkaralinsk more than once. He was one of the organizers of the celebration of the first anniversary of the proclamation of Kazakhstan as a republic back in 1921. And, of course, he was inspired by the amazing beauty of this land, the description of which he gave in his immortal novel "Abai's Way". And in the third book of the epic novel, through the mouth of Abai, the author says: “I heard that educated people who came out of Karkaralinsk began to appear ...”. Due to the circumstances of the time, the writer could not introduce them into his novel. But today everyone knows and is proud of these names. This is Alikhan Bukeikhanov - the pride of the Kazakh people , one of the most educated people of his time, a publicist, public and statesman. A man of tragic fate, he became a victim of political repression in the 30s. Zhakyp Akbaev, one of the first Kazakh lawyers, who graduated with honors from St. Petersburg University, lived and worked in Karkaralinsk. Alimkhan Ermekov occupies a special place in the fate of Karkaralinsk, and indeed of the whole of Kazakhstan. Here he graduated with honors from school. Then he returned here in the early 1920s and opened a comprehensive school, then contributed to the opening of a pedagogical college. And not long before that, in 1920, Alimkhan Yermekov spent a whole month in Moscow: preparing documents and materials on the formation of the Kazakh Autonomous Republic. It is thanks to the persistence of our fellow countryman that Kazakhstan for the first time managed to legally formalize its statehood and its borders. Alimkhan Yermekov is not only a statesman, public and political figure, but also a prominent scientist, the first professor of mathematics, doctor of sciences. Academician A. Saginov received his first education in Karkaralinsk. Here, the future president of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan Sh. Chokin, academician A. Zhautikov, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences A. Mashanov made their first steps along the scientific path. And today the doctor of geological sciences T. Didenko-Kislitsina, doctors of medical sciences A. Rakishev, T. Seisembekov and A. Abdrakhmanov, doctor of mathematical sciences A. Durmagambetov continue their scientific activities. Our fellow countryman Sergazy Mynzhasarovich Adekenov became a world-famous scientist. And Manat Zhaksybergenovich Tolymbekov, who was born in Karkaralinsk, graduated from high school in his hometown, became a doctor of technical sciences, a laureate of the State Prize. Karkaralinsk is the birthplace of wonderful poets. Lovers of poetry call the name Madi Bapiula (1880-1921) with awe . He was born in these places and found his last refuge at the foot of the Karkaraly mountains in the Mulixay tract. His songs are immortal: they live, attract, conquer and remain forever in each new generation of Kazakhs. The poet Syrbai Maulenov really prophetically said: Yes, the best sons are dying, Yes, proud eagles are dying, But Madi's verses are still heard, Among your mountain steeps, Karkaraly !. Fame came to Madi during her lifetime, and she could be envied. “The whole Karkaralinskaya steppe sings Madi's songs”, - GN Potanin, a Russian researcher, democrat and ethnographer , wrote with admiration back in 1914 in his diary . The outstanding composer, professor Akhmet Zhubanov, said about the popular song "Karaokesek" to this day: "Proud, fearless, tragic, she went around the whole world." One of the comprehensive schools in the city, located on Madi Street, bears the name of the fiery poet-composer. Karkaralinsk continued its glory as the homeland of poets and writers in the 20th century. From here the petrel of Kazakh poetry Kasym Amanzholov took off into a poetic orbit. He wrote about his native district: O dear land, your akyn dreams of you, I am your singer, I am your protector, I am your son. One of the streets of the city, running directly into the high mountains, now bears the name of our fellow countryman, a poet-front-line soldier .. Famous writers A. Abishev, K. Satybaldin are natives of the Karkarali places . And nowadays the poet Zh. Omirbekov, the writer living in Karkaralinsk, S. Lyambekov please us with their creativity. Serik Aksunkarov continues and multiplies the poetic glory of Karkaralinsk worthily, whose formation as a poet of a deep scale took place in our city. And today his native land is a source of inspiration for the poet. According to him, Karkaralinsk is for him like Boldino for Pushkin. Here he wrote his most famous works. One of them, "Shaitankul", evokes awe and a high flight of the soul. Nowadays, a rare Kazakh does not sing or does not know the words of this modern romance-tender song "Shaitankul". The blessed land of Karkarali gave the world many singers and artists , whose art was admired far beyond the borders of Kazakhstan. The great Amre Kashaubaev conquered the capital of France Paris in the distant 20s with his singing. Then the baton was taken by People's Artists K. Kuanyshbaev, Sh. Zhandarbekova, Zh. Elebekov, R. Koishibaeva, M. Zhunusova, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan M. Adambekov. The ensemble from Karkaralinsk "Saltanat", the pride of today, admired France, Germany, Turkey, Bulgaria with their art . The names of prominent statesmen of Kazakhstan and the Soviet Union are associated with Karkaralinsky. Our compatriot N. Nurmakov held the highest posts in the first years of Soviet power both in Karkaralinsk and in the central government bodies of the republic, and then in the USSR: he will work in Moscow in a high position in the apparatus of the highest state body - the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Local authorities in the Karkaralinsky district were headed in the 30s by A. Asylbekov, who would later become one of the first chairmen of the Karaganda regional executive committee, and then the chairman of the Government of the Kazakh Republic. In 1934, one of the leaders of the Soviet state S.M. Kirov will visit Karkaralinsk and hold a meeting here. A native of our place, D. Kerimbayev will head the highest state post in Kazakhstan - Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Kazakh Republic. The whirlwinds of the civil war, the struggle for the establishment of Soviet power, the difficult years of the famine of the 30s and Stalin's repressions ruthlessly walked through the hometown. Therefore, now the monument to 78 Communards, erected in the city center, is perceived differently. It stands today as a monument to all those who died in those fateful years: red, and white, and Kazakhs, and Russians - in a word, to all the fallen Karkaralians for freedom. In this regard, the fate of another native of these places, General L.K. Kornilov, who was named an honorary Karkaralin resident in 1916, is indicative. The son of an interpreter who spoke perfectly Kazakh and a local Kazakh woman, Kornilov was born here, received his primary education. One can assess his activities on the eve and after the 1917 revolution in different ways, but no one will dispute that L.G. Kornilov was a brave man, a great general and a patriot of his homeland. In 1882, another general was born in Karkaralinsk, already of the Soviet era, a front-line soldier, V.K. Mordvinov. It is not for nothing that these lands are called the homeland of heroic batyrs . Among them is the Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot N. Abdirov, who died in the harsh autumn of 1942. Another Hero of the Soviet Union, machine gunner M. Mamraev, after the war, repeatedly came to his native places and met with fellow countrymen. The feat accomplished during the war years by another Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot P. Teryaev, is immortal. Karkaraly roots of the Hero of the Soviet Union R. Esetov, who lives today in the city of Turkestan. Captain A. Kosybaev, who was awarded the highest order of the USSR - the Order of Lenin, bravely fought and died defending Leningrad. During the Great Patriotic War, thousands of Karkaralins were at the front and showed miracles of heroism. In memory of them, the “Grieving Mother” memorial was erected in the city park. The traditions of the batyrs continue to this day. The ancient and eternally young land of Karkaraly released its eagle Toktar Aubakirov into the vastness of the universe. He is the first Kazakh cosmonaut, but even earlier the whole world knew about him as a test pilot of a rare talent, of which only a few on earth. General of independent Kazakhstan Toktar Aubakirov - Hero of the Soviet Union, Khalyk Kagarmany, Hero of Austria, The legendary man calls Karkaralinsk his hometown, rejoices at every positive stroke in his homeland. A new page in the annals of Karkaralinsk has been opened since the independence of our republic. Many residents of Karkarali have already found their place in the civil service, in the sphere of economy, business, and benefit the Motherland and native land. The deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the country, born in Karkaralinsk, Rauan Shaekin never leaves his native lands, his hometown, his native school No. 2 out of his attention, patronizes cultural institutions. The old mansion, renovated by him and donated to the city, which has now become the "House of Veterans", is very popular among citizens and guests. S. Tursunov, the head of the Presidential Administration, B. Aimakov and N. Idrisov as vice-ministers were also natives of Karkaralinsk. One of the first admirals of Kazakhstan is also our fellow countryman - K. Abikeev. The residents of Karkarali are especially proud of the fact that the first President of our state N.A. Nazarbayev has repeatedly visited their native places. It is impossible to list everyone whom the Karkaraly land gave and is proud of. Many wonderful people, famous and little-known, were born and raised in this beautiful and amazingly beautiful land, or have been here, forever falling in love with it. Life goes on, history goes on ... And the whirlwinds of changes and the difficulties of the transition period did not pass by Karkaralinsk either. The population has decreased here.