Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is situated inCentral Asia, deep in the Eurasian continent.The territory of Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 square kilometers. It is the 9th largest country in the world after Russia, China, the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and Australia. Kazakhstan has borders with China, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. In total the border covers 12,187 kilometer.

Kazakhstan stretches from the lowlands of the Volga in the West to the foothills of the Altai Mountains in the East and from the west Siberian lowland in the North to the desert of Kyzylkumand the Tien ShanMountains in the South.

The nature of Kazakhstan is beautiful in its own way. It is severe, since the majority of the territory consists of deserts. Only 26% of the territory is occupied by steppes and 5,5% by forests. There is Sary-Arka – a “yellow steppe” in the central part of the country.

The climate of the republic is mainly sharply continental. The temperature in summer rises to +49 degrees Centigrade in the South and in winter may fall to -57degrees Centigrade in the North.

Kazakhstanhas 8,500 small and large rivers. The largest are the Ural, Emba, Syrdarya, Ishim, Ili, Irtysh and Tobol. One of the largest lakes in Kazakhstan is Lake Balkhash.Kazakhstan always paid great attention to conservation of the ecosystem, flora and fauna of the Aral Sea, a part of which is located on the territory of the country. Kazakhstan as well owns the northern and part of the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Kazakhstan is rich in mineral resources including the world's largest reserves of chromium, phosphorous, iron, chrome, lead, zinc and copper.There are nearly 160 deposits of oil and gas including one of the largest deposits of the world, the Tenghiz field.

The population of Kazakhstan is 15million people.

Kazakhstan is a sovereign state. In December 1991 Kazakhstan declared its independence.Historically Kazakhstan is a multinational state. According to the constitution adopted in 1995 every nationality can develop its culture in Kazakhstan. All people of the country have equal rights and duties.

The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana (since December 10, 1997) with a population of 528,000 people.

The official language of the country is Kazakh.State institutions and local administration also use Russian.

The head of the state is the President, who is elected by full age citizens of Kazakhstan.