The Republic of Kazakhstan

By Anatoliy Solnyshkin, E. Muskie Scholarship holder, UMASS-Amherst, MA CPPA

Kazakhstan Map

Source: National Statistics Agency

South

West

East

North

Centre

Territory - 1,053,000 sq. mi – 4xTexas, 23xPA 9th largest country in the world by territory World’s largest landlocked country: bordered by Russia,

China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

Nature in Kazakhstan

The country history in brief

Native Kazakhs are a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation.

In the end of 18th century Kazakhstan became a province of the Russian Empire and in 20th a Soviet Republic, following the October Revolution initiated by Vladimir LENIN and his Bolsheviks (Communist Party in future).

During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. A lot of immigrants from other Soviet republics came to Kazakhstan.

In 1991 Kazakhstan became independent.

People Population: 16.6 million

Urban: 52.8%; Rural 47.2% Density – 15 people per sq.mile

Life Expectancy: 68 years

Literacy Rate: 99.5%

Ethnic groups: Kazakhs 63%, Russians 22%, other 15% (131 in total)

Religion: Muslim (70.2%), Russian Orthodox (26.6%), other (3.2%)

Kazakhstan Wonders

Kazakhstan Wonders

Political System Presidential Republic

The highest legislative body: Majilis – Parliament

The highest executive body: The Cabinet of Ministers

President: Nursultan Nazarbayev

Capital: Astana (since 1997)

Language: Kazakh, Russian

Astana – capital of Kazakhstan

Ak Orda Presidential Residence

The Baiterek Tower in Astana

Economy GDP per capita: $11,169 (2011)

Growth rate: 7.3%

Unemployment: 5.4%

Population below poverty line: 8.3%

Inflation: 7% (2011)

Currency: Tenge (exchange rate $1=150 KZT)

Industry: Oil, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, molybdenum

Agriculture: Grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock

Exports: Oil and oil products, ferrous metals, chemicals, machinery, grain

EconomyGDP composition

Agriculture (5.4%)

Service (51.8%)

Industry (42.8%)

Labor force - by occupation

Agriculture 28.2%

Services 53.6%

Industry 18.2%

National Food“Kazy”Appetizer of horse and mutton

meat

“Kumys” fermented mare’s

milk

“Baursaks”fried dough balls

National Food“Beshparmak”

meat and pasta dishBesh = Five and Parmak =

Fingers

National Food

National Food

YURT - a traditional Kazakh house in the times of Nomads

National Costumes

Kazakh Antique Jewelry

Kazakh Ornaments and Carpets

Arpabas, kobelek Tuyietaban

(“camel foot”)Gool, dongelek

Kus kanat (“bird’s wings”)

wings

Kempyr kosak (“rainbow”)

Orkesh (“camel hump”)

Tumarsha

Kilim Tekemet Sumak

Kazakh Felt Carpets and Embroidery

HolidaysNauzyz Meyramy – Asian New Year – March 22

National Sports

KUS SALU - hunting with hawks

KOKPAR – horseback riding competition

National Instruments

Baikonur Cosmodromeis the world's first and largest operational space launch facility

It was originally built in the Soviet Union in late 1950s as the base of operations for its space program. It remains a busy space port, with numerous commercial, military and scientific missions being launched annually.

Hockey in Kazakhstan

Hockey players raised in Ust-Kamenogorsk hockey school:Vitaliy Yeremeyev – New York RangersNikolay Antropov – Atlanta ThrashersVitaliy Kolesnik – Colorado Avalanche

Yevgeniy Nabokov – New York IslandersKonstantin Shafranov – Fort Wane Comets

Almaty- the Southern Capital