Almaty (2)
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 681.
Almaty was once the capital of Kazakhstan but now it remains a capital in our hearts. It stands in the foothills of the Zailiisky Alatau Mountains. Almaty is the city of green parks and crowded avenues, buildings of peculiar architecture and original fountains. There are a lot of museums and cinemas. Theatres and modern hotels are there too.
Almaty is a young city. Contemporary architects are creating the appearance of the city. Ensembles of buildings and new housing blend in with the panorama of the mountains, parks, gardens and streets. If you want to have a look at the city from the top of the mountain, you may use a cableway. Skiing facilities and the ‘Medeo' alpine skating rink are at your disposal almost all year round. ‘Medeo' is not only a stadium. It is also snow-capped peaks sparkling in the sun, tall Tien-Shan fir trees, and mountain air coolness.
The city and its environs have harsh continental climate with temperatures varying greatly not only throughout the year but even in the course of a single day. Summer lasts from May to September, with an average temperature of +22° in July. Winter is short with average temperature of – 8° in January. Autumn here is warm and dry; spring comes early, almost overnight, but with recurrent cold spells. There is approximately 600 mm of precipitation annually, about the same as in Moscow. Since the city is located in a broad valley from three sides surrounded by high mountain ranges, windy days are a rarity in the city.
A non-stop flight from Almaty to Moscow lasts 4 hours. There are direct flights from Almaty to St. Petersburg, Irkutsk, Kiev, Khabarovsk and to many other foreign cities and countries. Local time differs three hours from Moscow time and five hours from Central European time.
Almaty has recently become one of the main tourist attractions in the world.
Vocabulary:
to create – ñîçäàâàòü
to blend – ñî÷åòàòüñÿ
harsh-continental – ðåçêî-êîíòèíåíòàëüíûé
vary – ìåíÿòüñÿ
average – ñðåäíèé
environs- îêðåñòíîñòè
Ø Answer the questions:
1. Where is Almaty located?
2. What is the city famous for?
3. What is ‘Medeo'?
4. How does the climate vary throughout the year?
5. How much time does it take you to get from Almaty to Moscow?
Ø Finish the sentences:
1. Almaty was once the capital of Kazakhstan …
2. If you want to have a look at the city…
3. Summer lasts…
4. Since the city is located in…
5. Local time differs…
Ø Match the parts of the sentences:
1. Almaty is the city of … … takes 4 hours.
2. Skiing facilities and the ‘Medeo' … peculiar architecture and fountains
alpine skating ring …
3. A non-stop flight from Almaty … are at your disposal almost all year
to Moscow … … round.
4. Green parks, and crowded avenues, … buildings of.
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| PART IX: CITIES AND TOWNS | | | KARAGHANDY (1) |