A Brief Description Sandwiched at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country on the planet, and (at one time) was the second largest republic in the former Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) As a part of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, it developed into a regional nuclear power, and hundreds of said weapons were detonated (tested) within its borders in the mid-to-late 1900s. After the collapse of the U,S.S.R., it gained independence in 1991, and subsequently negotiated with the U.S (a significant financial settlement) for the total disarmament of its nuclear arsenal. Almost surrounded by China and the Russian Federation, its abundance of natural resources (especially oil and gas) have put this relatively new country on the front burner of international investors and multilateral corporations. The Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world's oldest and largest working space launch facility, (under Russian control) is located about 200 km to the east of the Aral Sea, on the north bank of the Syr Darya River. Although a part of the Space Age, many significant internal problems must be solved in Kazakhstan if it is to make any serious economic progress; important ones include a decaying infrastructure (especially in the rural areas), an isolated geographical position with no direct access to an ocean, wavering relationships with China and Russia, and its easy-to-understand political resistance to change. Kazakhstan's government is stable, and it seems only a matter of time before this massive land emerges aggressively onto the world's stage. For more info on Kazakhstan, click here. Kazakhstan eagle hunter! Travel the World through Poster Art! Facts and Figures Name Kazakhstan (long form) Republic of Kazakhstan Population 15,185,000 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City Astana (305,000) Currency Tenge (KZT) Currency Converter here Languages Kazakh (official), Russian (official) Flag here National Day December 16 Religions Muslim (47%), Russian Orthodox 44%) The meaning of "stan" here! Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 51º 10' N, 73º 30' E Relative Location Kazakhstan is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. Positioned in western Asia, the country is bordered by the Russian Federation, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Land Statistics Coastline 0 (landlocked) - shorelines of the Aral and Caspian seas total 1,842 miles (2,964 km) Land Areas (land) 1,030,815 sq miles (2,669,800 sq km) (water) 18,340 sq miles (47,500 sq km) (TOTAL) 1,049,155 sq miles (2,717,300 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms Kazakhstan is mountainous along its far eastern and southeastern borders, where much of the forested Altai and Tian Shan ranges remain snowcapped throughout the year; with many elevated peaks here exceeding 6,500 meters. Just over 70% of the country is a desert or semi-desert dry mix of eroded lowlands, grasslands and sandy areas. The very dry Kirgiz (or Kaazakh) Steppe region (800,000 sq km) is the largest plain of its type on the planet. Weather conditions on the steepe are frequently inhospitable, and it's a very windy stretch of land. Along the edges of the landlocked Caspian Sea, the land dips way below sea level in some areas. In the west along its border with the Russian Federation, rolling prairie and forest dominate the landscape. The most important rivers include the Ishim, Irtush, Syr Dayra, Tobol and Ural. The Caspian and Aral Seas, and lakes' Alakal, Balkhash, Tengiz and Zaysan are the largest bodies of water. Highest Point Kan Tangiri Shyngy - 22,949 ft. (6,995 m) Lowest Point Vpadina Kaundy - (-432 ft.) (-132 m) below sea level Land Divisions 14 provinces and 3 cities; provinces include: Almaty Oblysy, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk) and Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz). Cities include: Almaty Qalasy, Bayqongyr Qalasy and Astana Qalasy Traveler Info Attractions Major points-of-interst include the former capital city of Almaty; its casinos, museums and striking mountain scenery, and the nearby winter sport venues, river rafting and nature tours. There are very limited tourism facilities in the outer reaches of the country and visitors are advised to use Almaty as a base of operation, and to deal with experienced guides and/or tour operators. Country Dialing Code 7 Electricity Kazakhstan uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here

Maps Kazakhstan (large color) Map here Kazakhstan Outline Map here Kazakhstan CIA version here Kazakhstan Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here Tsunami Map (December 2004) here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links Kazakhstan (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Kazakhstan UN Mission here Kazakhstan News here! Kazakhstan Photos at TrekEarth.com here ATLAS Baikonur aerospace website here! Baikonur Cosmodrome here! Rocket launch at Baikonur Cosmodrome photo from Atlas Aerospace Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC +6) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here Time and Date in Astana, noting that the far-western half of Kazakstan (UTC +4) is two hours behind Astana. Climate The entire country of Kazakhstan is very arid, with the exception being the mountains ranges, east and southeast, where precipitation (in the form of snow) is usually quite heavy. With that lack of rain (no clouds), beautiful sunny days are the norm. Wide variations in temperatures stretch across the country, where daily highs in summer reach into the low 80s, central and southwest, mid-70s in the south, while winter low temperatures (way below zero) are quite common countrywide. Altai Mountains, Kazakhstan Travel the World through Poster Art!

 

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This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/kazakhstan.html