# Tekeli > town in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan **Wikidata**: [Q2302185](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2302185) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekeli,_Kazakhstan) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tekeli ## Summary Tekeli is a city of regional significance located in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan, situated at an elevation of 1,300 meters above sea level. Founded in 1937, it serves as an administrative center that transitioned from the Tekeli Qalasy district structure to the Tekeli Qalasy administrative unit in 2022. The town covers an area of 174 square kilometers and operates on the UTC+06:00 timezone. ## Key Facts * **Classification:** Tekeli is classified as both a city and a city of regional significance. * **Location:** Situated in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan (historically part of the Soviet Union). * **Founding Year:** The city was established in 1937. * **Geographic Coordinates:** 44.83322° N latitude, 78.83089° E longitude. * **Elevation:** 1,300 meters above sea level. * **Total Area:** 174 square kilometers. * **Timezone:** UTC+06:00. * **Postal Code:** 041700. * **Administrative History:** Located in Almaty Region until 2022; since 2022, it is located in Tekeli Qalasy. * **Population Trends:** * 1939: 4,925 residents. * 1959: 30,046 residents. * 1970: 29,846 residents. * 1979: 28,536 residents. * 1989: 31,428 residents. * 1999: 23,982 residents. * 2009: 26,062 residents. * 2021: 29,253 residents. * **Digital Presence:** Official website is http://tekeli.gov.kz. * **Identifiers:** * Wikidata ID: Q206855 (implied by references). * Freebase ID: /m/063zv6m. * GeoNames ID: 1518296. * GNS Unique Feature ID: -2344862. * Who's on First ID: 421182019. * OpenStreetMap Relation ID: 5518135. * Cato ID: 331810000. * **Multilingual Coverage:** Wikipedia articles exist in 25 languages including English, Russian, Kazakh, German, French, Chinese, and Turkish. * **Media:** Official coat of arms and images of the Orthodox church and Nowruz celebrations are available on Wikimedia Commons. ## FAQs **When was Tekeli founded and how has its administrative status changed?** Tekeli was established in 1937 and is currently designated as a city of regional significance. While it has long been part of the Almaty Region, its specific administrative district designation shifted to Tekeli Qalasy starting in 2022. **What is the population history of the city?** The population has fluctuated significantly over the decades, peaking at 31,428 in 1989 before dropping to 23,982 in 1999. Recent data from 2021 indicates a recovery to 29,253 residents, following a count of 26,062 in 2009. **Where is Tekeli located geographically and what are its physical dimensions?** The city sits at an elevation of 1,300 meters with coordinates at 44.83322° N and 78.83089° E. It spans a total land area of 174 square kilometers and operates within the UTC+06:00 time zone. **How can one access official information or media about Tekeli?** Official government information is available through the website http://tekeli.gov.kz. Visual documentation, including the city's coat of arms and photos of local landmarks like the Orthodox church, is hosted on Wikimedia Commons. ## Why It Matters Tekeli represents a significant administrative and demographic hub within the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan, serving as a case study for urban development in high-altitude Central Asian environments. Its establishment in 1937 marks a specific era of Soviet-era industrial or regional planning that shaped the demographic landscape of the region for nearly a century. The city's population trajectory, which saw a massive surge in the mid-20th century followed by a decline and recent stabilization, reflects broader economic and social shifts in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. As a city of regional significance, it functions as a critical node for local governance, housing specific administrative categories for births and associated people, and maintaining a distinct cultural identity evidenced by its multilingual documentation and specific holiday celebrations like Nowruz. ## Notable For * **High-Altitude Urbanization:** It is a major settlement located at 1,300 meters above sea level, distinguishing it from lower-lying regional centers. * **Demographic Volatility:** The city experienced a dramatic population increase from 4,925 in 1939 to over 30,000 by 1959, followed by a complex fluctuation through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. * **Administrative Evolution:** It holds the unique distinction of transitioning its primary administrative location qualifier from "Almaty Region" to "Tekeli Qalasy" in 2022. * **Multilingual Recognition:** The entity is documented in 25 different languages on Wikipedia, indicating its cross-cultural relevance. * **Distinctive Visual Identity:** The city maintains a specific coat of arms and is associated with distinct photographic records of its Orthodox church and Nowruz festivities. ## Body ### Geographic and Physical Characteristics Tekeli is situated in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan, defined by precise geographic coordinates of 44.83322° North latitude and 78.83089° East longitude. The city sits at a substantial elevation of 1,300 meters above sea level, influencing its climate and settlement patterns. It encompasses a total area of 174 square kilometers. The region operates under the UTC+06:00 timezone. For mapping and navigation purposes, the city is identified by the OpenStreetMap relation ID 5518135 and the GeoNames ID 1518296. ### Administrative and Political Structure The entity is classified as a city and specifically as a city of regional significance. Its administrative location has undergone a recent structural change; prior to 2022, it was located in the Almaty Region, but as of 2022, it is located in Tekeli Qalasy. The city is assigned the postal code 041700. It maintains an official government presence via the website http://tekeli.gov.kz. In terms of unique identifiers, the city holds the Who's on First ID 421182019, the Cato ID 331810000, and the GNS Unique Feature ID -2344862. The Freebase ID for the entity is /m/063zv6m, with a publication date of October 28, 2013. ### Demographic History The population of Tekeli has experienced significant shifts since its inception in 1937. Historical census data reveals a rapid growth phase in the mid-20th century, with the population rising from 4,925 in 1939 to 30,046 in 1959. The growth continued, reaching 29,846 in 1970, 28,536 in 1979, and peaking at 31,428 in 1989. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the population declined to 23,982 in 1999. A recovery period followed, with counts of 26,062 in 2009 and 29,253 in 2021. These figures are sourced from various statistical references, including Q4350752, Q2532382, and Q130223255. ### Cultural and Visual Identity Tekeli possesses a distinct visual identity, including an official coat of arms available as a vector file on Wikimedia Commons. The city is the subject of various photographic documentation, including images of the Orthodox church located on Timiryazeva Street and celebrations of Nowruz in 2013. The city is categorized under "Category:Tekeli" on Wikipedia, with specific categories for "Births in Tekeli" and "People of Tekeli." The entity is linked to 252 sitelinks across different language projects, indicating a broad network of related entries. ### Digital and Linguistic Presence The city maintains a robust digital footprint across 25 languages, including Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Catalan, German, English, Spanish, Persian, Finnish, French, Kazakh, Lithuanian, Latvian, Malay, Polish, Russian, Swedish, Tajik, Turkish, Tatar, Ukrainian, Uzbek, and Chinese. The English Wikipedia title is "Tekeli, Kazakhstan," and the Wikidata description explicitly defines it as a "town in Almaty Region, Kazakhstan." The primary topic category is linked to the reference Q206855, which also serves as the source for the area, website, timezone, and coat of arms data. ## References 1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 2. Population Census in Kazakhstan (1999) 3. Census in Kazakhstan 2009 4. Source 5. GeoNames