Monumental Sites In Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Or is it miner-mental? Karakanda is the mining capital of Kazakhstan, a cute, historic city about three hours south of the capital, Astana. The town has been around for a while and historic sites dot the place.

Here's a little scene at the entrance road to a mine. Generic sculpture of a miner and a sign that proclaims, "All Glory To the Miners." It's all about the miners.

In the center of town, a couple of historic highlights. The stele of independence. Colorful flags are in celebration of the annual Miner's Day. The impressive front facade of the Miners Palace of Culture, complete with archetypes of Soviet workers.

Monument to the famous USSR cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin.

Part of the impressive bronze frieze for victory in the Great Patriotic War. WWII for those peeps in the west. Nice mashup, a giant painting combining Van Gogh's Starry Night and Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanagawa. Brightening up a drab building.

Back to monumental bronzes, celebrating the reason for the city, a heroic take on the hard workers. Title? Miners Glory, of course.