Republic of Kazakhstan
The republic of Kazakhstan, which area is 2.717.300 km, is the ninth largest country in the world. It is located in the center of Eurasia and stretches from the Plain of Volga River in the West to the Altai in the east. State borders on with China, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kirghiztan In 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union Kazakhstan declared about its independence.
The capital - Astana.
Official languages - Kazakh and Russian.
Population. It should be noted that only 54 % the populations of the country consist of Kazakhs. About 30% of inhabitants - Russians, who are the largest ethnic minority. About 5 % of inhabitants consist of Ukrainians, 2, 5 % Uzbeks and 2 % - Germans. Kazakhstan - multinational country. Here live representatives of approximately 100 nationalities, among them Belorussians, Koreans, Poles, Yakuts, Udmurts.
Religion. About 49 % of population - Moslems, 47 % relate to the Russian Orthodox -Church and about 2 %are Protestants. The climate of the country is typically continental. This indicates cold and snowy winter with the relatively dry and hot summer. Average temperature in January -19-4c°, while in July temperature vary from 19 to 26c°. The lowest temperature in winter reaches -45 c°, highest in summer 30c°.
Nature. The relief of Kazakhstan very diverse, the large part of the territory consists of plains, low mountains and hills. The landscape of the West of the country is created by Caspian cavity, in the majority of the cases the swampy region is lower than sea level, which passes in the east to plateau of Ustyurt. To the West of this plateau, in Mangustau peninsula, is located the deepest place of Kazakhstan - cavity Karagie (132 m).
From the east Caspian cavity is limited to the southern spur of Ural mountains, by the mountains of Mugodshar, which reach height 656 m. in the center of Kazakhstan are located the Kazakh threshold (in Kazakh Saryarka), the region, caused by steppes and semi-deserts with similar of average value (from 500 to 1.500 m) by mountains as Ulatau, Kekshetau and Karkaralu. In the northwest Kazakh threshold is limited with the Turgai plateau, while on the north by Western Siberian plain. In these regions the landscape of fertile and forest steppes is created by many lakes and rivers. In the east republics are located the covered with forest mountain ranges of the Altai, which separate Siberia from the Central-Asian deserts. The highest melancholy of the Altai - mountain Belukha (4.506 m).
Astana - the coldest capital in the world
Astana - capital of Kazakhstan with population 547.000. This city arose in 1997 on the spot, where before stood city Akmola. Astana means “the capital”. Probably, this name was selected because it pleasantly sounds and corresponds to its graphic writing not only in the native language, but also in many foreign languages. Moreover previous name Akmola meant “white tomb”. The plan of city for the new capital developed by Japanese architect Kisha Kurakava and his command. In Astana reigns the architectural style of 60-70y.y of the 20th century, many town regions were arisen or rebuilt in recent years. This concerns buildings in the south to Ishima. Astana is considered as the coldest capital of the world, as so the temperature in winter of -40c° is common.
Almaty- father of apples
Almaty from 1921 till 1994 (Alma Ata from Kazakh “alma” - apple and “ata” - father) used to be the capital of Kazakhstan, is one of the largest cities of this state with the number of inhabitants 1.185.000. City is located on the southeast of Kazakhstan not far from the boundary with Kirghiztan. Almaty even to nowadays is considered the cultural, economic and scientific center of state. Transferring the capital into Astana did not weaken its positions. |
