Aktau

Aktau ) is a city in south-west Kazakhstan, located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Its name means 'white mountain' in the Kazakh language, which may be due to its cliffs that overlook the Caspian. From 1964 to 1991, the city was named Shevchenko, in honor of the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, who was exiled to the area during his lifetime. Aktau is located on the Mangyshlak Peninsula and serves as the administrative center of the Mangystau Region.