Kazakhstan - the largest of Stans in Central Asia

Kazakhstan stretches for more than 3,000 km (covering two time zones) from the lower reaches of the Volga in the west to the foothills of the Altai Mountains in the east, and almost 2,000 km from the West Siberian Lowland in the north to the Kyzyl Kum desert in the south.

The remoteness of the country from the oceans and the vastness of its territory affect the climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. The climate is sharply continental with an average temperature between - 19…-4 degree in January and between +19…+26 degree in July. The temperature in winter can lower to - 45 degree while in summer rise up to +30 degree.

Population: 17,948,000 (as of 01.07.2014)

Capital: Astana (since December 10, 1997) with population of 828,759 (as of 02.06.2014).

Administrative-territorial division: Administratively, Kazakhstan is divided into 14 regions, 84 cities, 159 districts, 241 towns and 2,042 auls (villages).

In terms of number of inhabitants Kazakhstan is divided as follows:

• 300,000 - 400,000 inhabitants – Karaganda, Shymkent, Pavlodar, Taraz and Ust-Kamenogorsk;

• 200,000 - 280,000 inhabitants – Uralsk, Temirtau Kustanai, Aktobe, Petropavlovsk and Semipalatinsk;

• 110,000 - 160,000 inhabitants – Dzhezkazgan, Ekibastuz, Kyzyl Orda, Aktau, Kokshetau and Atyrau.

Language: The Kazakh language is adopted as the state one. Russian is also widely used.

Currency: Kazakh currency is tenge (KZT) equal to 100 tyins (since 1993).

State symbols: Flag, national emblem

Holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan:

National holiday:

• Independence Day–16- 17 December.

Public holidays:

• New Year - 1-2 January;

• International Women’s Day – 8 March;

• Nauryz Meyramy – 21-23 March;

• Kazakhstan Peoples’ Unity Day– 1 May

• Fatherland Defender’s Day – 7 May;

• Victory Day– 9 May;

• Capital City Day – 6 July;

• Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan – 30 August;

• Day of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – 1 December.

• The first day of Kurban-ayt, observed by Muslim calendar and 7 January – orthodox Christmas are also non-working days.

Religion: The Republic of Kazakhstan is a multinational state, inhabited by more than 120 nationalities. The main religion is Islam, but the Kazakhs manifest tolerance towards other religions of the peoples living in their territory, such as Christianity, Judaism, etc. The country has built many mosques and churches in recent years.

Geography: The Kazakh territory is fed by 8,500 rivers. The length of seven of them (the longest ones) exceeds 1000 km, including the Ural and Emba flowing into the Caspian Sea, the Syr Darya, flowing into the Aral Sea and the Irtysh, Ishim and Tobol, carrying their water to the Arctic Ocean. Kazakhstan has 48,000 lakes. The largest of them are Balkhash, Zaisan, Alakol, Tengiz and Seletengiz. Kazakhstan occupies the northern part and half of the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. The Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea coastline is 2340 km. The major part of Kazakhstan is occupied by deserts and steppes. The rest of the area is covered by semi-deserts and forests. The flora and fauna consist of 155 species of mammals, 480 species of birds, 150 species of fishes and about 250 species of medicinal plants, with very rare ones among them.