ALMA ATA (formerly V yernyi) . (1) A town which is the capital of the Dzhetysyisk province of the Autonomous Kazak (Kirghiz) S.S.R. Pop. (1926) 45,379. It was founded as a forti fied settlement by the Russians in 1855, but is now important commercially, and may become more so if the projected railway links with the Trans-Siberian and Orenburg-Tashkent railways are built. (2) A district round the town, area 72,05 2sq.km. Pop. (1926) 370,806, on the northern slopes of the beautiful Khungai Ala Tau mountains, watered by streams which run through the fertile loess area below to Lake Balkash. The climate and soil are favourable to vine and fruit cultivation.