Atyrau (former Guryev) is a center of Atyrau region in Kazakhstan. The city was founded by businessmen Mikhail Guryev at mouth of Yaik(Ural) River in 1615.  After getting permission for monopolistic sturgeon fishing from the king Mikhail Romanov, the businessmen had to build up town fortification for protection from foreigners attacks, also he had to provide the King residence with sturgeon and black caviar. Thus Yaitskiy town was founded and later it was renamed to Guryev Forpost.
The town is located in two parts of the world: Samara part is on the bank of Ural River in Eurpe, and Bukhara part is on the left bank, in Asia. The city was renamed to Atyrau in 1992, which means “lagoon”. The first factories of refining oil and the largest in Kazakhstan canned fish factory were built in here, in Atyrau. Emben region of the city is the center of oil-producing industry in Kazakhstan.
There are also museum of regional studies and history, museum of art, theater of drama and many other historical monuments in Atyrau.