Kazakhstan Republic of Kazakhstan

General Information People native to this area are a mixture of Turkic and Mongol tribal people. The tribal people migrated here in the 13 th century and were very rarely united as a single nation. This land was conquered during the 18 th century by Russia. Kazakhstan became a Russian Republic in 1936.

During the 1950’s and 1960’s, citizens were encouraged to help farm and cultivate the land. There was an influx of immigrants. Native Kazakhstani people were outnumbered by the non native people. Freedom and independence have caused people to immigrate here.

Location: Absolute: 48°North Latitude, 68°East Longitude. Relative: Central Asia. Northwest of China. A small portion lies West of the Ural River in Eastern most Europe.

Place: Climate: Continental. Cold winters and hot summers. Arid and semiarid in different parts. Terrain: Land runs from Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in Western Siberia to the oases and deserts in central Asia.

Natural Hazards: Earthquakes in the South, and mudslides around Almaty. Nationality is Kazakhstani. Capital is Astana. The government center used to be located in Almaty, but moved to Astana in the 1990’s. Kazakhstan is a landlocked country.

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Human and Environmental Interaction: Radioactive and Toxic waste sites are associated with former defense industries. Weapons testing sites are hazardous to people and animals. Industrial pollution is severe in some cities. Salt and Chemical pesticides are being blown into noxious and toxic duststorms.

Movement: Railways Highways Waterways Pipelines Ports and Harbors Airports: 488 total. 60 are paved.

Cannabis is cultivated illegally. Limited Opium production as well as ephedra. Government is trying to eliminate illicit crops. Transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe.

Region: Kazkhstan and China have ended the conflict over the borders are have begun to work together to eliminate problems such as population migration and illegal transit of drugs. Parts of the Caspian Sea seabeds is under dispute.