Baikonur cosmodrome

The Baikonur Cosmodrome, amid semi-desert about 250 km north-west of Kyzylorda, has been the launch for all Soviet and Russian crewed space flights since Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, was sent up in 1961. In fact, the launch site isn’t really in Baikonur, which is actually a town 300 km to the north-east, but the USSR told the International Aeronautical Federation that Gagarin’s launch-point was Baikonur, and that name has stuck. The nearest town is the Russian military town of Leninsk on the Syr-Darya, south of the Cosmodrome, which it was built to guard and service. The train station just north of Leninsk is called Toretam. A space tracking station is visible to 2 to 3 km north of the station; the launch site is about 300 km. father north.

After the collapse of the USSR, the Cosmodrome became a useful card in Kazakhstan’s dealing with Russia; which inherited the Soviet space program. While Russia insisted that the cosmodrome and its associated military forces were its own, Kazakhstan wanted them under joint control. A shortage of funds led to a number of space projects being suspended, falling living standards in the support towns, and riots by Kazakh soldiers there in 1992 and 1993. Many Russians and Ukrainians left. In 1994 Kazakhstan agreed to lease Baikonur and Leninsk to Russia for 20 years for about 120 million dollars a year. A few months later the Kazakh cosmonaut Talgat Musabaev and the Russian Yuri Malenchenko took off a symbolic joint visit to the Mir space station.

Vocabulary:

amid – среди

semidesert – полупустыня

launch site – запускать участок

collapse – крушение

inherited – унаследованный

under joint control – под контролем

shortage of funds – сокращение денежного фонда

riots – бунт, мятеж

to tease – арендовать

official currency – официальное денежное обращение

• Correct the sentences:

1. The Baikonur Cosmodrome is situated to the south of Kyzylorda at the distance of about 200 km.

2. Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, was sent up in 1964.

3. The nearest town is the Russian cultural and industrial town of Leninsk.

4. Leninsk was built to produce products and food for people of Kazakhstan.

5. American dollars are the official currency in Baikonur.

6. This area is open for holidaymakers.

7. You will set into a lot of trouble if you do not visit Baikonur.

• Fill in the crossword. Answer the questions in one word.

1. What is the best place for getting a permition to visit Baikonur? (Embassy )

2. Who was the first spaceman lobbed up in Baykonur in 1961?

3. What town is the Cosmodrome near by? (Kyzylorda)

4. The nearest town to Baikonyr. (Leninsk)

5. After what event did the Cosmodrome become a useful card in Kazakhstan’s dealing with Russia? (Collapse)

6. What kind of shortage led to a number of space projects being suspended? (Funds)

7. Who of the Kazak cosmonauts took off on a symbolic joint visit to the Mir space station? (Musabaev)

8. The nearest station to Baykonur. (Toretam)

				1		B
					2	A
					3	Y
4						K
					5	O
				6		N
					7	U
				8		R

Aktobe

Aktobe, on the main rail line to Moscow, about a hundred kilometers from the Russian border in north-west of Kazakhstan, is a rather dull industrial city where you might need to change trains. The older part of town near the station is marginally more interesting than the modern centre several kilometres north.

If you have time to waste or food to get, there is a lovely market, backed by some very strange-looking factories, about a kilometer east of the train station: take Kokhar koshesi, the main road heading right uphill from the station. Nearby is the local museum, open 9 am to 5 pm.

From Wednesday to Monday, when Rosa, an English speaking curator, may be available to give you a tour of the otherwise unremarkable natural and general history collection. To reach here from the station, take Ayteke Bi, the second street on the left off Kokhar koshesi from the station, then turn right at the hotel Ilek on Altynsarin; the museum in a white building.

The best place to stay is Hotel ‘Aktyubinsk’, which has clean rooms with TV and fridge. The local recommend eating at an Armenian restaurant ‘Urartu’ (Truda, 39a), a short taxi ride from the hotel ‘Aktyubinsk’. Otherwise there are several small cafes near the station serving the usual menu of dumplings and noodles. Flights from Aktobe are scheduled to Almaty and Moscow daily, Aktau and Astana twice a week.

• Ask disjunctive questions:

1. The older part of the town is more interesting than the modern centre …?

2. Hotel ‘Aktyubinsk’ has clean rooms with TV sets and fridges ...?

3. The local museum opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm ...?

4. Flights from Aktobe are scheduled to Almaty and Moscow daily ..?

5. Aktobe isn’t a drab industrial city, ...?

6. The locals didn’t recommend eating at an Armenian restaurant ...?

• Say what statements are wrong and what statements are right:

1. Rosa, a Russian-speaking curator, may be available to give you a tour of the general history collection.

2. If you have time to waste or food to get, there is a lively park, backed by some factories.

3. The best place to stay is hotel ‘Aktyubinsk’.

4. There are a lot of small cafes near the station serving the usual menu of soup and meatballs.

5. Aktobe is situated about a hundred kilometers from the Russian border in the northwest of Kazakhstan.

Atyrau

Atyrau, on the Ural river, 300 km upstream from its mouth on the northern shore of the Caspian Sea, is ‘Oil City of Kazakhstan’, acting as a command station for the main Tenghiz oilfield 350 km farther south. The giant USA oil company, Chevron, is one of the major players through its multibillion-dollar joint venture, called ‘Tengizchevroil’, with Kazakhstan government. There are many other oil and gas fields in the Atyrau region, and offshore reserves in the Caspian may hold the greatest potential yet.

Not surprisingly, Atyrau sees a steady stream of western oil people, which keeps hotel prices higher than they should be, somewhat compensated for by a better than average range of restaurants. Because it was founded in 1640 by a Russian trader named Guryev, whose name the town bore until 1993, there are also fascinating architectural remnants of bygone ages to be discovered.

Caviar used to be traded here until the oil business took off early in the 20^th century. Some 80 per cent of the town’s population is Kazak, one of the highest levels in the country.

Spring floods in recent years have brought the Caspian shoreline closer, and it is feared that much of Atyrau will be under water by the mid-21 century if steps are not taken to protect it.

The mud that engulfs the town after rain in winter is legendary; if you visit during this time, take appropriate footwear.

Atyrau is 2700 km west of Almaty. The nearest sizeable town is Astrakhan in Russia, 350 km to the west.

• Choose the correct answer:

1. Atyrau is located on the bank of …

a) the Irtysh river b) the Ural river c) the Ulba river

2. There are…other oil and gas fields in the Atyrau region.

a) many b) much c) a little

3. It was founded by a Russian trader named …

a) Smirnov b) Volkov c) Guryev

4. It was founded in …

a) 1760 b) 1460 c) 1640

5. …used to be traded here.

a) Caviar b) Apples c) Fish

6. Spring … in recent years have brought the Caspian shoreline closer.

a) streams b) floods c) rains

• Answer the questions:

1. Whose name did the town bear until 1993?

2. Why is it feared that much of Atyrau will be under water by the mid -21 century?

3. What engulfs the town after rain in winter?

4. What’s the town’s population?

5. Why are the hotel prices too high?

6. What is the nearest sizable town in Russia?

PART X: FAMOUS PEOPLE