Qapshaghay, Kazakhstan

Capital City

With a population of just 8,341, Qapshaghay is a remote outpost in southeastern Kazakhstan, far from the comforts of big city life. The town was only established in the 1960s after the construction of the Kapshagay dam flooded the previous settlement of Iliysk. Today, it remains a bureaucratic headache, as many of the former Russian inhabitants fled the city during the Soviet Union's collapse. However, the nearby Kapchagay Reservoir is a popular weekend destination for tourists from the larger city of Almaty, 76 km to the south. For those seeking a truly off-the-grid experience, Qapshaghay may fit the bill, but it's certainly not for the faint of heart.