In the village of Zhalpaktal, West Kazakhstan Region (WKR), a 30-metre replica of the Eiffel Tower has been built. The unusual structure was gifted to the village by the 2006 graduates of the local school to mark the anniversary of their graduation.
HOW THE UNUSUAL STRUCTURE CAME ABOUT
The initiator and designer of the structure was local craftsman Sairanbek Kazhiakpar. He reported that work on the Eiffel Tower replica took 9 months, according to Qaz365.kz.
The construction required 25 tonnes of metal and 200 litres of paint. The total cost of the project was 23 million tenge. According to the creator, this work was one of the largest in his career.
The opening of the tower became a major event for the village's residents, and the structure itself is already being called a new landmark of Zhalpaktal.
WHY GRADUATES GIVE GIFTS TO THE VILLAGE
The tradition of giving large gifts to the village began in Zhalpaktal in 2013. Since then, school graduates celebrating the anniversary of their graduation have been carrying out various projects for the settlement by 25 May.
During this time, in 48 settlements and 16 rural districts of the region, with the support of graduates, football fields, arches, village clubs, medical centres, parks, street lighting and pedestrian paths have appeared.
In 2025, graduates of one of Zhalpaktal's schools handed over a covered sports facility worth 35 million tenge to the residents. Small architectural structures in the shape of a dombra and an open book with quotes from Abay were also installed in the village.
WHY THE TOWER CAUSED CONTROVERSY
After photos of the tower appeared, opinions among social media users were divided. Some commenters felt that the funds should have been used to address the village's infrastructure problems, located approximately 300 kilometres from the regional centre.
Users suggested directing the funds towards road repairs, improving communications, sports facilities, or other social projects instead of an architectural structure.
Another group of commenters supported the graduates' initiative. In their view, such projects help draw attention to the village and preserve the tradition of supporting one's native settlement.