evidence: Kazakhstan is a multinational and multicultural country with a vast territory. Kazakh culture is not only a mixture of nations but it has also inherited a lot from different nearby cultures including China, Mongolia and the other Turkic cultures (like Kyrgyzstan) and of course Russia. Despite such a blend of cultures, each different nation of Kazakhstan has carefully preserved its cultural traditions and customs. [...] The circular, felt-covered yurt is a potent image of Kazakh culture. Few Kazakhs now live in yurts, although they are still used by some animal herders who move their animals into summer mountain pastures. [...] The steppe landscapes, with their scent of wormwood and billowing waves of feather grass, are an enduring memory of a journey across Kazakhstan, even if the passage may at the time seem monotonous. As a summary, the steppe is the essence of Kazakhstan, its nature, its people, and its culture.