Atyrau is in the northern area of the Caspian sea in western Kazakhstan. Atyrau is located on the delta of the Ural river, 20 meters below sea level. Atyrau is divided by the Ural, which is part of the border between Europe and Asia making Atyrau one of two cities in the world to be located on two different continents. It is a major hub for the oil industry, serving both the Tengiz and Kashagan oilfields. About 80% of the city’s population is ethnic Kazakh.Atyrau origins can be traced back to the 1640’s. Initially it was a fortified town located at the mouth of the Yaik River, where it flowed into the Caspian Sea. The Yaik would eventually be renamed by Catherine II and become the Ural River. The town was originally built using wood, however after being plundered by Cossacks, the town was rebuilt using stone by the Guryev family who were the first to start a fishery on the river and extract Emba oil. Consequently from 1708 to 1992 the city was known as Guryev in honour of the founding family. Since 1992 however the city has been known as Atyrau which means ‘the place where the river flows into the sea’. The Ural river marks a border between Asia and Europe. Thus it is said that the Ural divides Atyrau into two parts, European and Asian. Originally the city was constructed mainly on the European side. Oil development began in the city during the late 19th century and today is the primary industry in Atyrau.It is possible to enter Atyrau by air and by rail. If entering from outside of Kazakhstan you will need to obtain a visa prior to arrival. Consult the Kazakh embassy website for your country regarding for further details on visa requirements and restrictions.Atyrau International Airport (IATA: GUW) provides passenger service through: Air Astana, which services routes between Atyrau and Aktau, Almaty, Amsterdam, Astana, Istanbul, and Moscow-Sheremetyevo)

Airport: GUW Atyrau Airport Cities in Jordan

Country: Kazakhstan