Zhambylskaya Oblast.
Kazakhstan Oblasts and Regions

At that time Taraz played an important trade role on the Great Silk Road, which crossed the valleys of rivers Chu, Talas and Asa.

Medieval Taraz was a crowded town with shady gardens and noisy bazaars where you could hear the Persian, Sogdian, Turkic, Chinese and Russian languages.

The most interesting and unique architectural mon uments of the 11-12 centuries in the territory of Zhambyl Region are the mausoleums of Babaji-khatun and Aisha-bibi (10-11 th and 11-12 th centuries); Zhoshi-khan and Akasha-khan (near Zhezkazgan) dating back to the 13th century; Zhuban-ana, Kaip-ata and Mulim-berdy in the valleys of rivers Sarysu and Kengir; and the Karakhan Mausole um in Taraz.

Until now people tell a lovely legend about love and de­ votion of beautiful Aisha, daughter of a noble rich man, for brave worrier Karakhan. It is Zhambyl region that is rumored to be the place where Kaza khstani "Loch-Ness Monster" lives - "Aidakhar water ghost" of the Kokkol lake. Numerous "witnesses" describe this strange creature as a gigantic snake over 15 m long, with a one-meter wide head.

It is difficult to find another place elsewhere in the world where within the radius of 10 to 15 km you can see a scorching forest-and-sand desert and the splendor of mountain ranges with babbling streamy springs. This is Zhusan-Dala, the southeast part of Betpak-Dala, the biggest desert of Kazakhstan.

The Khan- tau mountains are deeply wedged in Zhusan-Dala. Vast plains and flat mountain plateaus located between the towering heights accommodate small villages of shepherds. Kind hosts are always happy to welcome guests and treat them to strong and recreating kumys (mare's milk) and terribly tasty baursak.

Karatau range is the mountainous range and the north-west spur of Tien-Shan in South Kazakhstan. It stretches in Talas Alatau and gradually lowing passes to Sarysu-Chu plane. The length is 420km. It is divided into Eastern or Malyi Karatau and South-West Karatau. The highest peak is Bessaz (H-2176). The Eastern Karatau has a weakly winding and peaked surface. The South-West Karatau is cut by the valleys and divided into some massifs. The valley of the Syrdariya river is to the south-west of Karatau, and the Talas river is to the north-east. Karatau has a big influence on weather and climate conditions of the closest areas. Average temperature of January is -10'C.

The difference between average January temperature on the north-east and south-west mountainsides of Karatau is -4-6'C, it is because of influence of the warm mass of air from the south-west mountainsides. Average annual sum of atmospheric precipitation at mountainside foothills is 200-400mm. The quantity of atmospheric precipitation on the south-west mountainsides is 150-300mm more than on the north-east. The flora is mountainous-steppe. The rubber-bearing plant includes 35-40% of rubber. It grows nowhere in the country besides Karatau. The steppe mice, gopher, steppe polecat, badger, fox and others dwell here.

Merke river flows in the territory of Merke district of Dzhambul oblast and it is the right tributary of the Koragaty river. The length is 100km, the area of the waterland is 645km. It rises in the northern mountainside of Kirgiz Alatau, in the glaciers, and flows into Koragaty. The valley in upper parts is narrow and extended in the way out of mountain. Average annual consumption of the water is 3,20m/s. The water is drinking, soft and used for irrigation. The Merke village is located on the bank of the Merke river.

Georgievka village. Since 1930 it is the administrative center of Kurdai district of Dzhambul oblast. It is situated in 22km north-east of Bishkek, on the right bank of the Chu river. It was founded in 1893. The population is 22,1 thousands people (1986).

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