Otrar
Otrar
Отырар (Kazakh) | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Otrar hillfort | |
Otrar Location in Kazakhstan Otrar Otrar (Kazakhstan) | |
| Coordinates: 42°51′09″N 68°18′10″E / 42.85250°N 68.30278°E | |
| Country | Kazakhstan |
| Province | Turkestan Region |
| Founded | before 8th century |
| Elevation | 506 m (1,660 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (ALMT) |
| Postal code | 160000 |
Otrar or Otyrar (Kazakh: Отырар [wotɤ̥ˈrɑr]; Old Turkic: 𐰚𐰭𐱃𐰺𐰢𐰣, romanized: Keñü Tarman), also called Farab, is a ghost town in southern Kazakhstan which was once a settlement located on the Silk Road. It was an important town in the history of Central Asia, situated on the borders of settled and agricultural civilizations. It was the center of a great oasis and political district, commanding a key point connecting Kazakhstan with China, Europe, the Middle East, Siberia and Ural.