Kazakhstan

Geography

Main article: Geography of Kazakhstan

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With an area of 2.7 million sq. km. (1.56 million sq. mi.), Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest nation in the world. It is equivalent to the size of Western Europe.

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Major cities include, Astana (capital since June 1998), Almaty (former capital, once known as Alma-Ata and before 1917 as Verny), Karaganda, Shymkent (Chimkent), Semey (Semipalatinsk) and Turkestan, once known as Yasi.

Related Topics:
Astana - June 1998 - Almaty - Verny - Karaganda - Shymkent - Semey - Turkestan - Yasi

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See Cities of Kazakhstan

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The terrain extends east to west from the Caspian Sea to the Altay Mountains and north to south from the plains of Western Siberia to the oasis and desert of Central Asia.

Related Topics:
Caspian Sea - Altay Mountains - Western - Siberia - Central Asia

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The climate is continental with cold winters and hot summers; arid and semi-arid.

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Border lengths: Russia 6,846 km., Uzbekistan 2,203 km., China 1,533 km., Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km., and Turkmenistan 379 km.

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• Rivers and lakes include:
• Aral Sea
• Ili River
• Irtysh River
• Ishim River
• Lake Balkhash
• Lake Zaysan