Alatau (Kazakh: Алатау, Alatau; Russian: Алатау, Alatau), formerly known as Zhetigen (Kazakh: Жетіген, Jetıgen, جەتٸگەن; Russian: Жетыген, Zhetygen) is a small town in Almaty Region of Kazakhstan. It is located some 50 km north of Almaty, on the Turksib rail line.

History

On November 15, 2023, a decree was prepared by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, "On changes in the administrative and territorial structure of the Almaty region" with the assignment of the village to the status of a city and subsequent renaming to Alatau. On January 9, 2024, the village of Zhetygen was transformed into a city of regional subordination and renamed Alatau.

Accident

The 600th Guards Air Base of the Kazakh Air Force is located at an airfield (43°43′59″N 77°07′00″E / 43.7330°N 77.1168°E / 43.7330; 77.1168) near Zhetigen. An airforce plane crashed near the town in 2008.