My NewsSign Out Sign InCreate your free profileSections news Alerts start your engines: On the windblown steppes of central Asia there's a large pentagram etched into Earth's surface And now an archaeologist has revealed the source of the mysterious structure The five-pointed star surrounded by a circle, located on the southern shore of the Upper Tobol Reservoir, shows up vividly on Google Maps There are almost no other signs of human habitation in the area; the closest settlement is the city of Lisakovsk about 12 miles (20 kilometers) to the east The region surrounding Lisakovsk is riddled with ancient archaeological ruins. Bronze Age settlements, cemeteries and burial grounds — many of which have yet to be explored — dot the windswept landscape. [10 Strangest Sights on Google Earth] measuring roughly 1,200 feet (366 meters) in diameter doing on the side of a desolate lake in northern Kazakhstan many online comments have already linked the site with devil worship nefarious religious sects or denizens of the underworld upon zooming into the center of the pentagram viewers will see two places highlighted by previous visitors to Google Maps: One spot is called Adam The pentagram is an ancient symbol used by many (non-Satanic) cultures and religious groups. It has been adopted by the Mesopotamians, Pythagoreans (followers of Pythagoras, the ancient Greek mathematician), Christians, Freemasons and Wiccans The Kazakh pentagram certainly isn't the first odd discovery gleaned from Google Maps. Etched onto the desert floor of New Mexico are two large diamonds surrounded by a pair of overlapping circles. This is reportedly the site of a hidden bunker belonging to the Church of Scientology according to the author of a book on the religious group viewers of Google Maps can find a Yagi antenna array a device that looks like a giant piece of cracked glass but is used for atmospheric research featuring the smiling face of Colonel Sanders Though it's difficult to discern from an aerial photograph exactly what the Kazakh pentagram is an archaeologist with years of experience working in the Lisakovsk area "It is the outline of a park made in the form of a star," Usmanova told LiveScience The star was a popular symbol during the Soviet era (Kazakhstan was a part of the former Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991) Stars were often used throughout the Soviet Union to decorate building facades (Several online comments had suggested the star shape was the abandoned site of a Soviet-era lakeside campground.) The star in the Soviet-era lakeside park is marked by roadways that are now lined with trees, Usmanova explained, which make the star shape even more distinct in aerial photos. Additional images of the site, now abandoned and overgrown with weeds, can be seen at englishrussia.com Follow Marc Lallanilla on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article onLiveScience.com. The secret behind a mysterious pentagram in northern Kazakhstan has been uncovered by archeologists is more than 360 meters in diameter and is located near a lake about 20 kilometers from the nearest city of Lisakovsk Internet users built theories around the giant symbol with many saying it was used for satanic worship Others said that it is an abandoned air missile site that had been used by the Russian military But the pentagram is nothing more than an ordinary park that was built during the Soviet era before being allowed to fall into ruin archeologist Emma Usmanova said in a report by Business Insider The star was one of the U.S.S.R.'s main symbols It is not known who built the park or why it was not maintained Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help please support us monthly starting from just $2 and every contribution makes a significant impact independent journalism in the face of repression people have wondered why there is a pentagram — apparently visible only from the sky — in a remote part of Kazakhstan The area is known for it's archaeological ruins but has little else in the way of human settlement with the nearest city (Lisakovsk) 12 miles away View Larger Map the pentagram has long been linked with occult movements and many have wondered if the area could be an ancient Satanist monument The real answer may be slightly more mundane LiveScience's Marc Lallanilla spoke to Emma Usmanova, an archaeologist with years of experience working in the area "It is the outline of a park made in the form of a star," Usmanova said pointing out that the park was probably built during the Soviet era (the star was one of the U.S.S.R.'s symbols) and that subsequent neglect has resulted in trees growing along roads and pathways English Russia has visited the area and reports that yes But who built it and why it was allowed to fall into ruin isn't exactly clear (via Google Earth) Why is this 1,200-foot in diameter symbol etched in the Kazakhstan wilds where few humans tread Turns out it is indeed something rather creepy: an abandoned Soviet-era summer camp.  SOVIET, NOT SATANIC: LISAKOVSK PENTAGRAM We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders Prospects for the development of single-industry towns in Kazakhstan considered at a Government session chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov The main specialisation of 20 single-industry towns where more than 1.3 million residents live is the extraction of minerals and their primary processing Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baibazarov in his report reported that today 23 town-forming enterprises of oil and gas the volume of industrial production totalled 18.5 trillion tenge The number of operating SMEs in single-industry towns increased from 92.3 thousand to 100.2 thousand over the year.  In order to systematically address infrastructure issues and develop the real sector of the economy comprehensive development plans for the cities of Altai Ridder and Stepnogorsk for 2023-2027 have been approved A total of 326 measures worth 456.6 billion tenge are envisaged 62.8 billion tenge is planned for the development of infrastructure in single-industry towns As part of economic diversification and creation of alternative industries in non-resource sectors of the economy akimats will implement 41 "anchor" projects worth 1.4 trillion tenge with the creation of more than 10 thousand jobs Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapaev said that special attention is paid to attracting investment in the economy of single-industry towns this year four investment projects worth over 100 billion tenge with the creation of about 1 thousand permanent jobs are being implemented.  Geological exploration works are carried out to attract additional investments resources with an estimated value of 1.1 trillion tenge were discovered in the vicinity of single-industry towns Investments worth 28.7 billion tenge have been attracted for exploration of the areas This year it is planned to complete prospecting works on 5 promising areas near the monotowns of Abay High dependence of social well-being of single-industry towns on the activities of town-forming enterprises was also noted at the Government session Reduced production can become a potential source of social and demographic problems Over 20 years the population of single-industry towns has already decreased by more than two times The main reasons have also been named - problems with jobs "We want to develop single-industry towns so it is necessary to take measures to increase incomes and employment This should be done through the expansion of production Akimats need to ensure the creation of attractive conditions and social packages for young professionals Companies whose production facilities are located in single-industry towns should also bear corporate social responsibility it is the protection of workers' rights participation in social initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of the population," Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov said Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev reported on the progress of modernisation of engineering infrastructure of single-industry towns at the Government session At the stage of implementation are repair and restoration work at Stepnogorsk CHP and modernisation of Balkhash heat and power plant Repair and reconstruction of 28 boilers and 11 turbines in Stepnogorsk The work on gasification of 11 single-industry towns continues which in the future will provide about 600 thousand people with gas.  Olzhas Bektenov noted that in matters of ensuring a comfortable life in single-industry towns akimats should pay special attention to the uninterrupted operation of infrastructure facilities it is necessary to focus on the construction and repair of infrastructure availability of educational and medical services.  Akim of Karaganda region Ermaganbet Bulekpaev reported on the results of creation of an industrial zone in Saran city which allowed to give a new impetus to the development of the settlement it is instructed to create similar industrial zones in the cities of Khromtau this experience should be extended to other single-industry towns To ensure a differentiated approach to the development of single-industry towns Stay updated about the events of the Prime minister and the Government of Kazakhstan - 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