At the base of Tian Shan mountains, in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, is the city of Almaty. Originally, Almaty was a small village on the edge of a broad plain. The people living here were Kazakhs. The Kazakhs kept sheep and camels, and led a nomadic life. Major changes came in the mid-19th century. The Russian Empire claimed this as its territory, and many Russian settlers came. They laid out streets in a grid, and built a modern city. Almaty is known for its rich greenery. It's also called a "garden city."
