Info on Aktobe/Aqtobe (edited on 12/16/07)

This heart on the map is the location of Aktobe/Aqtobe (apparently both spellings are correct).

I have found two different approaches to saying the name of the city correctly.
1. It is sort of like October with a short O then a long O then a long E but with no R.
2. It has been said the locals pronounce it Ock too bay. Ock short O and using a gruff German throaty sound then too bay.

The city was also formerly called Aktyubinsk. It is located 100km from the Russian border. The people living in this area tend to be a pretty fair split of both Russian and Kazak people. The Ilek River runs through the region. The area west of the river is considered Europe and the east side of the river is Central Asia.

According to Wikipedia the map below shows the whole province of Aktobe. We think we will most likely be invited to the city of Aktobe (where the heart is above) but we do have the potential to be sent to anywhere in the province. So anywhere in the dark green section is where our baby is waiting for us.

When we travel to Kazakhstan we will first fly to Almaty then take an in-country flight to Aktyubinsk (ATX) airport. The flight length is nearly 2 1/2 hours. At this point we are finding ourselves lucky to be going to an area that has an airport. Most families fly to Almaty then take a bus, train or taxi to there final destination. One big issue with taking in-country flights is they only allow 40 pounds of luggage per person. You of course can have more but you will be required to pay for the extra pounds. Many families have reported spending several hundred dollars more for over-weight luggage. From a safety stand point the in-country flights are safer than traveling by train or bus. Our agency flies all families into Almaty than out to their region. The last 3 to 10 days of our trip will also take place in Almaty. This is where our child will receive his/her passport, visa and medical examination for entry into America. Almaty is located in the southeast corner just a mountain range away from northwest China and western Mongolia. We have been told it is a beautiful area of the country.

Blurb from Wikipedia: Aktobe is a province of Kazakhstan. The Aktobe provincial capital is the city of Aktobe, with a population of more than 340,000. The province itself has a population 678,900. The area of the province is 300,600 square kilometers, making it the second largest province of Kazakhstan, after Karagandy Province. Aktobe Province borders Russia to the north and Uzbekistan to the south, and also borders six other Kazakh provinces: Atyrau Province, Mangystau Province, Karagandy Province, Kostanay Province, Kyzylorda Province, and West Kazakhstan Province. The Ilek River, a tributary of the Ural River, flows through the province. The name "Aktobe" comes from Kazakh "Ақ" (white) and "төбе" (hill); supposedly Aktobe's initial settlers were able to see white mountains far to the north.