Almaty's urban history spans medieval coins, 1911 quake, and a 1,000-km aryk network

September 20, 2026 at 09:19 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Almaty's history predates the 1854 founding of the Verny fortress, with medieval coins and a 1,386-coin hoard indicating an earlier urban center. The city's development was shaped by the 1911 Kemin earthquake, which destroyed 616 homes and about 3,000 non-residential buildings. Its aryk irrigation network, now about 1,000 km long, once served as the city's water supply before the 1931 central water system.

Key Facts

Two coins bearing the name 'Almaty' were found in the city in 1979 and date to the 13th century.
The Kemin earthquake of 1911 reached intensity up to 9 points in Verny and destroyed 616 residential and about 3,000 non-residential buildings.
The aryk network in Almaty is estimated at about 1,000 km in total length.
The first tram line opened in Almaty in 1937, and tram service ended in 2015.
A centralized water supply system appeared in Almaty in 1931.

Medieval Origins

Archaeological finds show that a medieval urban center existed on the territory of modern Almaty. Two coins with the name 'Almaty' were found in the city in 1979 and are dated to the 13th century. Researchers later discovered a large hoard of 1,386 silver coins, which became another argument for the ancient urban history of Almaty. The current metropolis grew on the site of a medieval city, then the Verny fortress, then Soviet Alma-Ata, and finally modern Almaty.

Seismic Legacy

The Kemin earthquake of 1911 reached intensity up to 9 points in Verny. The disaster destroyed 616 residential houses and about 3,000 non-residential buildings. After earthquakes, authorities strengthened construction requirements and sought ways to make buildings more resilient. Many old buildings in Almaty are interesting not only for their architecture but as reminders of how the city learned to build under seismic hazard.

Water and Transport

Aryks appeared in Almaty during the Verny period and initially supplied water to the city, not just for irrigation. A centralized water supply system appeared in Almaty in 1931, after which aryks no longer served as the city's water supply but remained important for irrigation. The total length of the aryk network is estimated at about 1,000 km, and its condition remains a city problem with some sections destroyed or turned into storm drainage. The first tram entered city streets in 1937, the network reached about 93 km of tracks in the 1990s, and tram service ended in 2015. The city is now preparing to launch the first LRT line.