Semey
City on the Irtysh, former nuclear test site and regional capital.
- location
- North-eastern Kazakhstan, on the Irtysh River
Lore & Background
The fort was named Semipalatinsk (Russian for 'Seven-Chambered City') after the monastery. A small city developed around the fort, largely serving river trade between nomadic peoples of Central Asia and the Russian Empire. The construction of the Turkestan-Siberia Railway in the early 20th century added to the city's importance, making it a major transit point between Central Asia and Siberia.
Reader's Guide
The resulting nuclear fallout and uncontrolled exposure have caused high rates of cancer, childhood leukemia, and birth defects among residents of neighbouring villages. Modern Semey is a bustling university town with a more Russian character than other Kazakh cities, owing to its proximity to Russia and its large scientific community.
Did You Know?
- The Museum of F. M. Dostoevsky in Semey is the only one of seven Dostoevsky museums located outside Russia.
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