Kazakhstan – beautiful country
Kazakhstan lies in the center of western Asia, with a small part of the northwestern corner of the country in Europe. Its official name is Republic of Kazakhstan. Its area is 2,717,300 square kilometers. Kazakhstan borders China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. The border between Kazakhstan and Russia is the longest continuous land border in the world (7 512.8 kilometers). The Caspian and the Aral Seas are partially within the republic.
Kazakhstan’s climate is extremely continental, with cold winters and hot summers. The Kyzyl Kum and the Betpaqdala are the largest deserts. Only a few scrub plants grow in these areas.
Representatives of about 120 ethnic groups live in Kazakhstan.
Khan Tangiri Shyngy is the highest point (6,398 m).
Vpadina Kaundy is the lowest point (132 m below sea level).
Irtysh River is the longest river (4,441 km).
Lake Balkhash is the largest lake (18,200 sq km). This lake is unique, because half of the water in it is fresh, and half is salty.
Almaty, in the southeast near the Kyrgyzstan border, is the largest city.
The Charyn Canyon in the northern Tian Shan has been compared to the Grand Canyon in the United States.
Kazakhstan is rich in mineral resources, including coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, titanium, nickel, wolfram, tungsten, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, silver, and uranium. The country also enjoys large deposits of petroleum and natural gas.
Astana is the capital of the country.
Kazakhstan is the birthplace of tulips and apples.
Horses were first domesticated in the territory of modern Kazakhstan.
Medeo is the highest mountain skating rink in the world.
The first artificial Earth satellite (Sputnik-1) and the first man (Yuri Gagarin) were sent into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Baikonur Cosmodrome is the world’s first and largest cosmodrome, which covers an area of 6,717 km².
The Chui Valley is the largest place of the massive growth of feral cannabis, or wild marijuana. The territory of the valley is about 150 000 hectares.
Kazakhstan declared its independence on December 16, 1991, thereby becoming the last state to withdraw from the USSR.
The Great Silk Road passed through Kazakhstan.
The Kazakhstani steppes are in the UNESCO World Heritage List.