also significant (7.73%). The number of other Asian peoples - Turks, Kurds, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, as well as Koreans does not exceed 4% in total. The numerous communities of Germans, Greeks, Poles, Ukrainians, and other European peoples, who were once living in Kazakhstan during the Soviet era, significantly decreased due to mass emigration to other countries after 1991. Demographics As of 2020, the Almaty Region has a population of 2,055,724. Ethnic groups (2020): Kazakh: 72.32% Russian: 13.12% Uyghur: 7.74% Turkish: 1.84% Azerbaijani: 0.86% Others: 4.12% Note: the population and ethnicity figures exclude the City of Almaty, which is administratively separate from the Almaty Region. Historical Ethnic Composition In the 1989 census (excepting Alma-Ata): Kazakhs: 54.2%. Russians: 28.6%. Uigurs: 7.8%. Others: 9.4%. In the 1999 census (excepting Almaty): Kazakhs: 66.4%. Russians: 23.8%. Uigurs: 7.0%. Others: 4.6%. In the 2009 census (excepting Almaty): Kazakhs: 68.2%. Russians: 22.8%. Uigurs: 6.2%. Other: 3.8%. Sights In 2021, the mountain cluster of the Almaty Region was selected as one of the top 10 tourism destinations in Kazakhstan. Other popular sights include: Lake Alakol - healing lake Burkhan Bulak - highest waterfall Altynemel - national park Besqaynar - Ski resorts located 1500 metres above sea level Kolsay Khan Taniry Kaindy Balkhash Tamgaly - a World Heritage Site (petroglyphs) Charyn Canyon - Charyn National Park Talgar - a region where the Issyk kurgan is located Medeo - one of the most famous ice rinks in the world Dostyk - a point of entry from China to Kazakhstan Kapchagay Dam on the Ili River Also in 2021, the tourism department of Kazakhstan announced that 15 huts for tourism shelter equipped with Wi-Fi, charging stations, and first-aid kits are planned to be constructed in the Almaty mountain area in the near future. The huts will be located in the middle and left Talgar, Kimasar, Tuyuk-Su, Upper Gorelnik, Big Almaty, Shukur and Prokhodnoye gorges. Culture - Taldykorgan Drama Theatre named after B.Rimova Drama Theatre named after B.Rimova was opened on November 4, 1975. A group of young graduates of the Almaty State Conservatory named after Kurmangazy, who graduated from class of People's Artist of Kazakhstan Sholpan Zhandarbekova, opened the curtain of the theatre with the performance of G. Musrepov “Kozy Kurpesh-Bayan Sulu”. On August 31, 2000, the theatre was named after People's Artist of Kazakhstan Biken Rimova, laureate of State Prize. On October 30, 2018, they moved to a new building. -«Museum