Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, IPA /qɑzɑqˈstɑn/; Russian: Казахстан, Kazakhstán, IPA /kɐzəxˈstɐn/), also spelled Kazakstan, is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of Asia, and a former republic of the now extinct USSR. A portion of its territory west of the Ural River is located in eastern-most Europe. It has borders with Russia, the People's Republic of China, and countries of Central Asia, such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and has a coastline on the Caspian Sea. Categories: Language stubs | Turkic languages | Languages of Asia | Languages of China | Languages of Kazakhstan ... This article is about the alphabet officially used in linguistics. ... Russian (русский язык  listen?) is the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages. ... This article is about the alphabet officially used in linguistics. ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... Soviet Union - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... green - Europe, pink/gray - Asia See Europe page for more details about the geographical border between Europe and Asia. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The Russian Federation (Russian: Росси́йская Федера́ция, transliteration: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya or Rossijskaja Federacija), or Russia (Russian: Росси́я, transliteration: Rossiya or Rossija), is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia. ... The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) comprises most of the cultural, historic, and geographic area known as China. ... Map of Central Asia outlined in orange showing one set of possible borders Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан, variously transliterated), officially the Kyrgyz Republic, and sometimes known as Kirghizia, is a country in Central Asia. ... National anthem National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan Capital Tashkent President Islam Karimov Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev Official language Uzbek Area  – Total  – % water Ranked 55th  447,400 km²  4. ... National anthem Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem Capital Ashgabat President and Prime Minister Saparmurat Niyazov Official language Turkmen Area  – Total  – % water Ranked 51st  488,100 km²  Negligible Population  – Total (2002)  – Density Ranked 113th  4,603,244  9. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is a landlocked sea between Asia and Europe ( European Russia). ...

Kazakhstan is the ninth-largest country in the world by area, but its semi-deserts (steppe) make it only the 57th country in population, with approximately 6 persons per sq km (16 per sq mi). Population in 2005 was estimated at 15,100,500 [1]  (http://www.stat.kz/en/info/stat-bul/stbr&e0303.pdf), down from 16,464,464 in 1989 [2]  (http://www.stat.kz/ru/dynamic/svedenia_rk/population/nas.htm). A dune in the Egyptian desert Desert in California In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation. ... The steppe of Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, steppe (from Slavic step) is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally reckoned as being dominated by tall grasses, while short grasses are said...

History

Main article: History of Kazakhstan Overview Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. ...

Nomadic tribes have been living in the region that is now Kazakhstan since the first century BC. From the fourth century AD through the beginning of the 13th century, the territory of Kazakhstan was ruled by a series of nomadic nations. Following the Mongolian invasion in the early 13th century, administrative districts were established under the Mongol Empire, which eventually became the territories of the Kazakh Khanate. The major medieval cities of Aulie-Ata and Turkestan were founded along the northern route of the Great Silk Road during this period. (2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century - other centuries) The 1st century BC starts on January 1, 100 BC and ends on December 31, 1 BC. An alternative name for this century is the last century BC. (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium AD) Events The Roman... (3rd century - 4th century - 5th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. ... Taraz (formerly Zhambyl or Dzhambul) is a city and a center of oblystar in Kazakhstan. ... The Mazar of Shaikh Ahmad Yasavi in the town of Turkestan. ... The Silk Road (Traditional Chinese: 絲綢之路; Simplified Chinese: 丝绸之路; pinyin: sī chóu zhī lù) was an interconnected series of routes through Southern Asia traversed by caravan and ocean vessel, and connecting Changan, China with Antioch, Syria, as well as other points. ...

Traditional nomadic life on the vast steppe and semi-desert lands was characterized by a constant search for new pasture to support the livestock-based economy. The Kazakhs emerged from a mixture of tribes living in the region in about the 15th century and by the middle of the 16th century had developed a common language, culture, and economy. In the early 1600s, the Kazakh Khanate separated into the Great, Middle and Little (or Small) Hordes—confederations based on extended family networks. Political disunion, competition among the hordes, and a lack of an internal market weakened the Kazakh Khanate. The beginning of the 18th century marked the zenith of the Kazakh Khanate. The following 150 years saw the gradual colonization of the Kazakh-controlled territories by tsarist Russia. The steppe of Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, steppe (from Slavic step) is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally reckoned as being dominated by tall grasses, while short grasses are said... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Centuries: 16th century - 17th century - 18th century Decades: 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s 1590s - 1600s - 1610s 1620s 1630s 1640s 1650s Years: 1600 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 1607 1608 1609 Events and Trends November 5, 1605 - The Gunpowder Plot to blow up the British Parliament. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of Russian history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start...

The process of colonization was a combination of voluntary integration into the Russian Empire and outright seizure. The Little Horde and part of the Middle Horde signed treaties of protection with Russia in the 1730s and 1740s. Major parts of the northeast and central Kazakh territories were incorporated into the Russian Empire by 1840. With the Russian seizure of territories belonging to the Senior Horde in the 1860s, the tsars effectively ruled over most of the territory belonging to what is now the Republic of Kazakhstan. Events and Trends The Great Awakening - A Protestant religious movement active in the British colonies of North America Sextant invented (probably around 1730) independently by John Hadley in Great Britain and Thomas Godfrey in the American colonies World leaders Louis XV King of France (king from 1715 to 1774) George... Events and Trends The War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) rages. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Events and trends Italian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). ... Tsar ( Bulgarian цар, Russian царь,  listen?; often spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires since 913, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to...

The Russian Empire introduced a system of administration and built military garrisons in its effort to establish a presence in Central Asia in the so-called "Great Game" between it and Great Britain. Russian efforts to impose its system aroused the resentment of the Kazakh people, and by the 1860s, most Kazakhs resisted Russia's annexation largely because of the disruption it wrought upon the traditional nomadic lifestyle and livestock-based economy. The Kazakh national movement, which began in the late 1800s, sought to preserve the Kazakh language and identity. From the 1890s onwards ever-larger numbers of Slavic settlers began colonising the territory of present-day Kazakhstan, in particular the province of Semirechie. The number of settlers rose still further once the Trans-Aral Railway from Orenburg to Tashkent was completed in 1906, and the movement was overseen and encouraged by a specially created Migration Department (Переселенческое Управление) in St. Petersburg. The competition for land and water which ensued between the Kazakhs and the incomers caused great resentment against colonial rule during the final years of tsarist Russia, with the most serious uprising, the Central Asian Revolt, occurring in 1916. The Great Game is a term, usually attributed to Arthur Connolly, used to describe the rivalry and strategic conflict between the British Empire and the Tsarist Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia. ... Great Britain - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... A Kazakh and his camel The Kazakhs (Qazaq, Quazaq), (in Kazakh: Казак; in Russian: Казах; English term is the transliteration from Russian) are a Turkic people of the northern parts of Central Asia famous in the past for the fierce love of freedom, skillful horse riding, hunting with semi-domesticated... Events and Trends Beginning of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815). ... Semiryechye (Семиречье, also written Semirechie, Semireche, Semirechiye, Semirechye) is a historical name of a part of Russian Turkestan, which corresponds to the South-Eastern part of modern Kazakhstan, known as Zhetysu (Jetysu, Jity-su, Жетысу, Джетысу). ... Orenburg (Оренбу́рг) is a city on the Ural River and the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast in the Volga Federal District of Russia. ... Tashkent (Toshkent or Тошкент in Uzbek, Ташке́нт in Russian-meaning Stone City in English), the current capital of Uzbekistan, has in the past been called Chach, Shash and Binkent. ... ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

Although there was a brief period of autonomy during the tumultuous period following the collapse of the Russian Empire, the Kazakhs eventually succumbed to Soviet rule. In 1920, the area of present-day Kazakhstan became an autonomous republic within Russia and, in 1936, a Soviet republic. Soviet Union - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... The Russian Federation is divided into 89 federal subjects (administrative units), 21 of which are republics: Constitutional Status Republics differ from other federal subjects in that they have the right to establish their own official language (Article 68 of the Constitution of Russia). ... In its final decades of its existence, the Soviet Union consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR), often called simply Soviet republics. ...

Soviet repression of the traditional elites, along with forced collectivization in late 1920s-1930s, brought about mass hunger and led to unrest. Soviet rule, however, took hold, and a communist apparatus steadily worked to fully integrate Kazakhstan into the Soviet system. Kazakhstan experienced population inflows of thousands exiled from other parts of the Soviet Union during the 1930s and later became home for hundreds of thousands evacuated from the Second World War battlefields. The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) contributed five national divisions to the Soviet Union's World War II effort. Collective farming is an organizational unit in agriculture in which peasants are not paid wages, but rather receive a share of the farms net output. ... Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s - 1920s - 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Referred to as the Roaring 20s. ... Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented Science Nuclear fission discovered by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann Pluto, the ninth planet from the Sun, is discovered by Clyde Tombaugh British biologist Arthur Tansley coins term ecosystem War, peace and politics Socialists proclaim The death of Capitalism Rise to... Communism is a term that can refer to one of several things: a social and economic system, an ideology which supports that system, or a political movement that wishes to implement that system. ...

The period of the Second World War marked an increase in industrialization and increased mineral extraction in support of the war effort. At the time of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's death, however, Kazakhstan still had an overwhelmingly agricultural-based economy. In 1953, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev initiated the ambitious "Virgin Lands" program to turn the traditional pasturelands of Kazakhstan into a major grain-producing region for the Soviet Union. The Virgin Lands policy, along with later modernizations under Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, sped up the development of the agricultural sector, which to this day remains the source of livelihood for a large percentage of Kazakhstan's population. Industrialisation (or industrialization) or an industrial revolution (in general, with lowercase letters) is a process of social and economic change whereby a human society is transformed from a pre-industrial to an industrial state . ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Nikita Khrushchev in 1962 Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: Ники́та Серге́евич Хрущёв) (nih-KEE-tah khroo-SHCHYOFF) (April 17, 1894 – September 11, 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. ... Virgin Lands by Fedor Malaev, a romanticised view of the Campaign The Virgin Lands Campaign was an initiative by Nikita Khrushchev to open up vast tracts of unused (virgin) steppe in the northern Kazakh SSR and the Altai region of the Russian SFSR, started in 1954. ... Leonid Brezhnev Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (Russian: Леонид Ильич Брежнев) (December 19, 1906 - November 10, 1982) was effective ruler of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, though at first in partnership with others. ...

Growing tensions within Soviet society led to a demand for political and economic reforms, which came to a head in the 1980s. In December 1986, mass demonstrations by young ethnic Kazakhs took place in Almaty to protest the methods of the communist system. Soviet troops suppressed the unrest, and dozens of demonstrators were jailed. In the waning days of Soviet rule, discontent continued to grow and find expression under Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost. Caught up in the groundswell of Soviet republics seeking greater autonomy, Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty as a republic within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) in October 1990. Following the August 1991 abortive coup attempt in Moscow and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan declared independence on December 16, 1991. Landsat satellite photo of Almaty Almaty (Алматы; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Verny, Vyernyi (Верный) in Imperial Russia) is the biggest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of over 1,300,000 (9% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov (Gorbachev)  listen? ( Russian: ; pronunciation: mih-kha-ILL ser-GHE-ye-vich gor-bah-CHYOHV) (born March 2, 1931), was leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. ... Autonomy is the condition of something that does not depend on anything else. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region or group of people, such as a nation or a tribe. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... Saint Basils Cathedral Moscow  listen? ( Russian/Cyrillic: Москва́, pronunciation: Moskva), capital of Russia, located on the river Moskva, and encompassing 1097. ... The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

The years following independence have been marked by significant reforms to the Soviet command-economy and political monopoly on power. Under Nursultan Nazarbayev, who initially came to power in 1989 as the head of the Kazakh Communist Party and was eventually elected President in 1991, Kazakhstan has made significant progress toward developing a market economy. The country has enjoyed significant economic growth since 2000, partly due to its large oil, gas, and mineral reserves. Independence is autonomous self-government of a country by its residents and indigenous population. ... This article is about economic monopoly. ... Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (Нурсултан Назарбаев) (born July 6, 1940 in Chemolgan, Kazakhstan) is the current leader of Kazakhstan. ... A market economy is a term used to describe an economy where economic decisions, such as pricing of goods and services, are made in a decentralized manner by the economys participants and manifested by trade. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency. ...

Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency. The president is the head of state. The president also is the commander in chief of the armed forces and may veto legislation that has been passed by the Parliament. President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been in office since Kazakhstan became independent, won a new 7-year term in the 1999 election that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. The prime minister, who serves at the pleasure of the president, chairs the Cabinet of Ministers and serves as Kazakhstan's head of government. There are three deputy prime ministers and 16 ministers in the Cabinet. Daniyal K. Akhmetov became Prime Minister in June 2003. A head of state or chief of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the countrys... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... The word veto comes from Latin and literally means I forbid. ... Alternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). ... Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (Нурсултан Назарбаев) (born July 6, 1940 in Chemolgan, Kazakhstan) is the current leader of Kazakhstan. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for June, 2003. ...

Kazakhstan has a bicameral Parliament, comprised of a lower house (the Mazhilis) and upper house (the Senate). Single mandate districts popularly elect 67 seats in the Mazhilis; there also are 10 members elected by party-list vote rather than by single mandate districts. The Senate has 39 members. Two senators are selected by each of the elected assemblies (Maslikhats) of Kazakhstan's 16 principal administrative divisions (14 regions, or oblasts, plus the cities of Astana and Almaty). The president appoints the remaining seven senators. Mazhilis deputies and the government both have the right of legislative initiative, though the government proposes most legislation considered by the Parliament. A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. ... An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

Elections to the Mazhilis in September 2004 yielded a lower house dominated by the pro-government Otan party, headed by President Nazarbayev. Two other parties considered sympathetic to the president, including the agrarian-industrial bloc AIST and the Asar party, founded by President Nazarbayev’s daughter, won most of the remaining seats. Opposition parties, which were officially registered and competed in the elections, won a single seat during elections that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said fell short of international standards. 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: September 2004 in sports Deaths in September • 27 Tsai Wan-lin • 24 Françoise Sagan • 20 Brian Clough • 18 Russ Meyer • 15 Johnny Ramone • 12 Fred Ebb • 11 Peter VII of Alexandria • 8 Richard Girnt Butler...

In 1999, Kazakhstan applied for observer status at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. The official response of the Assembly was that Kazakhstan could apply for full membership, because it is partially located in Europe, but that they would not be granted any status whatsoever at the Council until their democracy and human rights records improved. The Palace of Europe in Strasbourg The Council of Europe is an international organisation of 46 member states in the European region. ... This article deals with democracy in its modern sense. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ...

Provinces

Main article: Provinces of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is divided into 14 provinces oblystar (singular - oblysy): Note: in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of...

Kazakhstan is divided into 14 provinces (oblystar) and the two municipal districts of Almaty and Astana. Each is headed by a Hakim (provincial governor) appointed by the president. Municipal Hakims are appointed by oblast Hakims. The Government of Kazakhstan transferred its capital from Almaty to Astana on June 10, 1998. Province is a name for a secondary, or subnational entity of government in most countries. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ...

Kazakhstan is divided into 14 oblys and 3 cities (qala)*:

Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau; formerly Shevchenko), Ongtustik Qazaqstan (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan (Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz; known as Dzhambul in the Soviet period, but before that as Aulie-Ata) Landsat satellite photo of Almaty Almaty (Алматы; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Verny, Vyernyi (Верный) in Imperial Russia) is the biggest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of over 1,300,000 (9% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... Astana, estimated population 500,000 (2003, the city is very fast-growing), has been the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997. ... Astana, estimated population 500,000 (2003, the city is very fast-growing), has been the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997. ... Astana, estimated population 500,000 (2003, the city is very fast-growing), has been the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997. ... Atyrau is a city in Kazakhstan. ... Oral (Russian: Уральск, Uralsk , also spelled Uralsk) is a city in western Kazakhstan, along the Ural (Zhayyq) River. ... Baikonur (formerly Leninsk) is a city in Kazakhstan administered by Russia. ... Aktau is a city in Kazakhstan and a seaport to the Caspian Sea. ... The Grand mosque of Pavlodar Pavlodar (Павлода́р) is a city in northeastern Kazakhstan, 350km northeast of the country capital Astana, and 350km southeast of Russias Omsk along the Irtysh River. ... Karaganda (Russian: Караганда) or Qaraghandy (Kazakh: Қарағанды) is the capital of the audany (Russian oblast) of the same name in Kazakhstan. ... Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakh: Өскемен, Russian: Усть-Каменогорск) or Öskemen, is the capital of the Shyghys Qazaqstan (Eastern Kazakhstan) Oblast. ... Petropavl, formerly Petropavlovsk (and Kyzldzhar?), is a city in Northern Kazakhstan close to the border with Russia, about 350km west of Omsk. ... Taraz (formerly Zhambyl or Dzhambul) is a city and a center of oblystar in Kazakhstan. ... Taraz (formerly Zhambyl or Dzhambul) is a city and a center of oblystar in Kazakhstan. ...

note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 km² enclosing the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (formerly Leninsk). The Russian Federation (Russian: Росси́йская Федера́ция, transliteration: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya or Rossijskaja Federacija), or Russia (Russian: Росси́я, transliteration: Rossiya or Rossija), is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia. ... The Baikonur Cosmodrome (Russian: Космодром Байконур, Kosmodrom Baykonur), also called Tyuratam, is the worlds oldest and largest working space launch facility. ... Baikonur (formerly Leninsk) is a city in Kazakhstan administered by Russia. ...

Geography

Map of Kazakhstan

Main article: Geography of Kazakhstan map of Kazakhstan, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Kazakhstan Geography of Kazakhstan Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... map of Kazakhstan, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Kazakhstan Geography of Kazakhstan Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Map of Kazakhstan This article describes the geography of Kazakhstan. ...

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. Western Europe is distinguished from Eastern Europe by differences of history and culture rather than by geography. ...

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. Astana, estimated population 500,000 (2003, the city is very fast-growing), has been the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997. ... Landsat satellite photo of Almaty Almaty (Алматы; formerly known as Alma-Ata, also Verny, Vyernyi (Верный) in Imperial Russia) is the biggest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of over 1,300,000 (9% of the population of Kazakhstan) citizens. ... Karaganda (Russian: Караганда) or Qaraghandy (Kazakh: Қарағанды) is the capital of the audany (Russian oblast) of the same name in Kazakhstan. ... Semey (Семей, sometimes transliterated as Semij or Semei) is a city in north eastern Kazakhstan, near the border with Siberia. ... The Mazar of Shaikh Ahmad Yasavi in the town of Turkestan. ...

See Cities of Kazakhstan The following is a list of cities in Kazakhstan: Akmecet Aktau Aktobe Almati Aral Astana Atirau Ayaguz Beyneu Baikonur Chapayev Chu Ekibastuz Emba Karaganda Khorogos Kizilyar Koksetau Kostanay Oktyabrsk Oral Oskemen Pavldar Petropavl Rudni Saryshagan Semey Simkent Taraz Temirtau Turkestan External link Map Categories: Lists of cities ...

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. Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is a landlocked sea between Asia and Europe ( European Russia). ... For the republic in Russia, see Altai Republic. ... Siberian federal subjects of Russia Siberia ( Russian: Сиби́рь, common English transliterations: Sibir, Sibir; possibly from the Mongolian for the calm land) is a vast region of Russia and northern Kazakhstan constituting almost all of northern Asia. ... Map of Central Asia outlined in orange showing one set of possible borders Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ...

The climate is continental with cold winters and hot summers; arid and semi-arid. A continental climate is the climate typical of the interiors of the large continents of the Northern Hemisphere; similar climates exist along the east coasts (but not the west coasts) of the same continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of the world. ...

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

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

The Aral Sea has now shriveled to well under half of the area it covered fifty years ago. ... The Ili River is a river in Kazakhstan and in the western part of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, in northwestern China. ... Irtysh River (also Ertis) a river in Asia, the chief tributary of the river Ob. ... The Ishim River (Иши́м, another name is Esil River) is a river running through Kazakhstan and Russia. ... Categories: Lakes of Kazakhstan | Rift lakes | Stub ... Lake Zaysan, a freshwater lake, ca. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Kazakhstan The Government of Kazakhstan plans to double its GDP by two times in 2008 comparing to 2000 and triple by 2015 comparing to 2003. The GDP growth was stable in last five years, and was higher than 9% (the second fastest growing economy in the world in real terms). the estimation for 2005 is 9.3 % growth in GDP. The GDP growth in 2004 was 9.4%. Kazakhstan's economy grew by 9.2% in 2003, buoyed by high world oil prices. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 9.5% in 2002; it grew 13.2% in 2001, up from 9.8% in 2000. Economy - overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. ...

Kazakhstan's monetary policy has been well managed. Its principal challenges in 2002 were to manage strong foreign currency inflows without sparking inflation. In 2003 inflation did not remain under control, registering at 6.8% instead of forecast level of 5.3%-6.0%. In 2002 inflation was 6.6%, compared to 6.4% in 2001. Because of its strong macroeconomic performance and financial health, Kazakhstan became the first former Soviet republic to repay all of its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2000, 7 years ahead of schedule. In March 2002, the U.S. Department of Commerce graduated Kazakhstan to market economy status under U.S. trade law. The change in status recognized substantive market economy reforms in the areas of currency convertibility, wage rate determination, openness to foreign investment, and government control over the means of production and allocation of resources.

In September 2002, Kazakhstan became the first country in the former Soviet Union to receive an investment-grade credit rating from a major international credit rating agency. As of late December 2003, Kazakhstan's gross foreign debt was about $22.9 billion. Total governmental debt was $4.2 billion. This amounts to 14% of GDP. There has been a noticeable reduction in the ratio of debt to GDP observed in past years; the ratio of total governmental debt to GDP in 2000 was 21.7%, in 2001 it was 17.5%, and in 2002 it was 15.4%.

The upturn in economic growth, combined with the results of earlier tax and financial sector reforms, dramatically improved government finances from the 1999 budget deficit level of 3.5% of GDP to a deficit of 1.2% of GDP in 2003. Government revenues grew from 19.8% of GDP in 1999 to 22.6% of GDP in 2001, but decreased to 16.2% of GDP in 2003. In 2000, Kazakhstan adopted a new tax code in an effort to consolidate these gains. On November 29, 2003 the Law on Changes to Tax Code was adopted, which reduced tax rates-- value added tax from 16% to 15%, social tax from 21% to 20%, and personal income tax from 30% to 20%. Kazakhstan furthered its reforms by adopting a new land code on June 20, 2003 and a customs code on April 5, 2003.

Oil and gas is the leading economic sector. Production of oil and gas condensate in Kazakhstan amounted to 51.2 million tons in 2003, which was 8.6% more than in 2002. Kazakhstan raised oil and gas condensate exports to 44.3 million tons in 2003, 13% higher compared to 2002. Gas production in Kazakhstan in 2003 amounted to 13.9 billion cubic meters, up 22.7% compared to 2002, including natural gas production of 7.3 billion cubic meters, Kazakhstan holds about 4 billion tons of proven recoverable oil reserves and 2,000 cubic kilometers of gas. Industry analysts believe that planned expansion of oil production, coupled with the development of new fields, will enable the country to produce as much as 3 million barrels (477,000 m³) per day by 2015, lifting Kazakhstan into the ranks of the world's top 10 oil-producing nations. Kazakhstan's 2003 oil exports were valued at more than $7 billion, representing 65% of overall exports and 24% of GDP. Major oil and gas fields and their recoverable oil reserves are Tengiz with 7 billion barrels (1.1 km³); Karachaganak with 8 billion barrels (1.3 km³) and 1,350 km³ of natural gas); and Kashagan with 7 to 9 billion barrels (1.1 to 1.4 km³).

Kazakhstan instituted an ambitious pension reform program in 1998. As of January 1, 2003 the pension assets were about $2.6 billion. There are 16 saving pension funds in the republic. State Accumulating Pension Fund is the only state fund, which is planned to be privatized in 2004. The National Bank oversees and regulates the pension funds. The pension funds' growing demand for quality investment outlets triggered rapid development of the debt securities market. Pension fund capital is being invested almost exclusively in corporate and government bonds, including Government of Kazakhstan Eurobonds. The Kazakhstani banking system is developing rapidly. The banking system's capitalization now exceeds $1 billion. The National Bank has introduced deposit insurance in its campaign to strengthen the banking sector. Several major foreign banks have branches in Kazakhstan, including ABN-AMRO, Citibank, and HSBC.

Agriculture

Agriculture accounted for 13.6% of Kazakhstan's GDP in 2003. Grain (Kazakhstan is the sixth-largest producer in the world) and livestock are the most important agricultural commodities. Agricultural land occupies more than 846,000 km². The available agricultural land consists of 205,000 km² of arable land and 611,000 km² of pasture and hay land. Chief livestock products are dairy goods, leather, meat, and wool. The country's major crops include wheat, barley, cotton, and rice. Wheat exports, a major source of hard currency, rank among the leading commodities in Kazakhstan's export trade. In 2003 Kazakhstan harvested 17.6 million tons of grain in gross, 2.8% higher compared to 2002.

Natural resources

Oil, gas, and mineral exports are key to Kazakhstan's economic success and have attracted most of the over $18.4 billion in foreign investment in Kazakhstan since 1993. Kazakhstan has significant deposits of coal, iron, copper, zinc, uranium, and gold.

Foreign relations

Kazakhstan has stable relationships with all of its neighbors and is a member of the United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and North Atlantic Cooperation Council. It also is an active participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace program. Kazakhstan is also a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization along with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan established the Eurasian Economic Community in 2000 to re-energize earlier efforts at harmonizing trade tariffs and the creation of a free trade zone under a customs union. The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization made up of 191 states established in 1945. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Содружество Независимых Государств (СНГ) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation or alliance consisting of 12 of the 15 former Soviet Republics, the exceptions being the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ... Flag of EURASEC The Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC) was put into motion on the 10th October 2000 when Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed the treaty. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Kazakhstan As of 2003, there is a discrepancy between reputable sources as to the population of Kazakhstan. ...

The majority of modern Kazakhstanis are currently either ethnic Kazakhs (58%) or Russians (27%), with smaller Ukrainian, Uzbek, German, and Uyghur and other minorities (15%). Religions are Sunni Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, and other. Kazakhstan is a bilingual country. The Kazakh language has the status of the "state" language, while Russian is declared the "official" language. Russian is used routinely in business; 64.4% of the population speaks the Kazakh language. Education is universal and mandatory through the secondary level, and the literacy rate is 98.8%. The 1990's were marked by the emigration of much of the country's Europeans, which was a major factor in giving the autochthonous Kazakhs a majority along with higher Kazakh birthrates.

The main ethnic groups in Kazakhstan are: Kazakhs (Qazaq) 58%, Russians 27%, Ukrainians 3.0%, Germans 1.5%, Uzbeks 2.9%, Uyghur 1.6%, other 6.0% (1999). Note: Before 1991 one million Germans lived in Kazakhstan. A Kazakh and his camel The Kazakhs (Qazaq, Quazaq), (in Kazakh: Казак; in Russian: Казах; English term is the transliteration from Russian) are a Turkic people of the northern parts of Central Asia famous in the past for the fierce love of freedom, skillful horse riding, hunting with semi-domesticated... A Kazakh and his camel The Kazakhs (Qazaq, Quazaq), (in Kazakh: Казак; in Russian: Казах; English term is the transliteration from Russian) are a Turkic people of the northern parts of Central Asia famous in the past for the fierce love of freedom, skillful horse riding, hunting with semi-domesticated... Russians (Русские - Russkie) are an East Slavic ethnic group, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries. ... The Ukrainians are a Slavic people of central-eastern Europe. ... The Germans (German: die Deutschen) is a nation in the meaning an ethnos (in German: Volk), defined more by a sense of sharing a common German culture and having a German mother tongue, than by citizenship or by being subjects to any particular country. ... Uzbeks (Ozbek, Pl. ... Uyghurs (also called Uighurs, Uygurs, or Uigurs) ( Simplified Chinese: 维吾尔; Traditional Chinese: 維吾爾; pinyin: ) are a Turkic ethnic group of people living in northwestern China (mainly in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where they are the dominant ethnic group together with Han people), Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Kazakhstan

• Abai Kunanbaev
• Khoja Ahmad Yasavi
• Music of Kazakhstan
• Islam in Kazakhstan

Abai Kunanbaiuli Abai Ibragim Kunanbaiuli (Kazak: Абай Ибрагим Кунанбайулы Russian: Because of Russian influence many people know him as Abai Kunanbaev) (August 10, 1845 - July 5, 1904) was a Kazakh poet, composer, and philosopher, as well as an important cog in the development of Kazakh as a legitimate written language. ... Kazakh music is nomadic and rural, and is closely related to Turkmen and Kyrgyz folk forms. ... By tradition the Kazaks are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school, and the Russians are Russian Orthodox. ...

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Kazakhstan
• Transportation in Kazakhstan
• Military of Kazakhstan
• Foreign relations of Kazakhstan
• List of Kazakh historical figures
• Kipchaks
• Media in Kazakhstan

Telephones - main lines in use: 1. ... Railways: total: 14,400 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 14,400 km 1. ... Military branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force, Border Services, Republican Guard Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,545,168 (2002 est. ... Kazakhstan has good relations with all of its neighbors. ... People from Kazakhstan: Abai Kunanbaev Al-Farabi Abulkhair Khan Ablai Khan Suinbai Aronuly Chokan Valikhanov Asan Kaigyr Girei Khan Janybek Kurmangazy Hodzha Ahmet Yasawi Kasymkhan Tauke Khan Kabanbay Bogenbay Nauryzbay Karasay Sultan Baraka Abulmambet Kenesary Kasymov Uali Khan Bukey Bukeikhanov Ashekeyev Imanov Zhanbosynov Bokin Baitursynov Nazarbayev Dulatov Altynsarin Isatay Taimanov... Kipchaks (also Kypchaks, Qipchaqs) are an ancient Turkic people, first mentioned in the historical chronicles of Central Asia in the 1st millennium BC. Their language was also known as Kipchak. ... Categories: Wikipedia cleanup | Stub ...

Environmental issues

In part because of the country's enormous semi-arid steppe, the Soviet government used Kazakhstan as its nuclear testing site, and this, along with near-absent pollution controls, has contributed to an alarmingly high rate of disease in many rural areas. Kazakhstan has identified at least two major ecological disasters within its borders-- the shrinking of the Aral Sea and radioactive contamination at the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing facility (in fact a large zone south of Koursatov) and along the Chinese border. The steppe of Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, steppe (from Slavic step) is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally reckoned as being dominated by tall grasses, while short grasses are said... Soviet redirects here. ... A nuclear test explosion is an experiment involving the detonation of a nuclear weapon. ... A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ... The Aral Sea has now shriveled to well under half of the area it covered fifty years ago. ... The radiation warning symbol (trifolium). ... Semey (Семей, sometimes transliterated as Semij or Semei) is a city in north eastern Kazakhstan, near the border with Siberia. ...

The Central Asian Regional Environmental Center is located in Kazakhstan, which fosters regional cooperation on environmental issues.

Cosmodrome

Kazakhstan possesses the Soviet equivalent to the United States' Cape Canaveral, where they have launched their version of the space shuttle and the well-known space station Mir. Russia currently leases approximately 6,000 km² of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome space launch site in south central Kazakhstan. Cape Canaveral is a city located in Brevard County, Florida. ... This article is about Mir, the Soviet space station. ... The Baikonur Cosmodrome (Russian: Космодром Байконур, Kosmodrom Baykonur), also called Tyuratam, is the worlds oldest and largest working space launch facility. ...

Sport

Cycling

Talented cyclist Alexander Vinokourov represents Kazakhstan in his cycling career for the German T-mobile team. Vinokourov has an impressive cycling record finishing third overall in the 2003 Tour de France. Cycling is a recreation, a sport, and a means of transport across land. ... Alexander Vinokourov, also written Alexandre Vinokourov, (born 1973) is a Kazakh cyclist. ... This article is about the cycle race. ...

Rhythmic gymnastics

Aliya Yussupova ended up 4th in Summer Olympic Games in Athens. She has been among medal winners in several previous tournaments. Currently, she is one of the top rhythmic gymnasts in the world. The Summer Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event held every four years, organised by the International Olympic Committee. ... The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, commonly known as the 2004 Summer Olympics were the 28th Summer Olympic Games. ...

Boxing

Kazakh boxers are generally well known in the world. In last 3 Olympic games their performance was assesed as one of the best and they had more medals than any countries in the world except Cuba and Russia (in all three games). In 1996 and 2004 two Kazakh boxers (Vasiliy Jirov-1996 and Bakhtiyar ARTAYEV -2004) were recognised as the best boxers for their techniques with the Val Barker trophy, awarded to the best boxer of the tournament. Kazakh boxers are renowned for their incredible performance in Sydney, 2000. Two boxers, Bekzat Sattarkhanov and Yermakhan Ibraimov, earned gold medals. Another two boxers, Bulat Jumadilov and Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov, earned silver medals. Boxer redirects here; for other meanings of boxer, see Boxer (disambiguation). ... Categories: 2000 Summer Olympics ... This article is about gold medal, as an award or prize. ... A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests (typically athletics competitions) such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. ...

Trivia

The name of the city of Almaty, 'Father of Apples' in English, derives from the wild apples that grow naturally in the area. Apples were first cultivated in this area, and Kazakh's apple stock is the most biologically diverse in the world. Species Malus domestica Malus sieversii The apple is the pomaceous fruit of trees of the genus Malus in the family Rosaceae, and is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. ...

Kazakhstan appears in the movies Air Force One (with Harrison Ford), The World Is Not Enough (James Bond), and Rollerball (with Jean Reno). Air Force One is a 1997 action movie starring Harrison Ford as the President of the United States, and directed by Wolfgang Petersen. ... Harrison Ford as Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor who between 1977 and 1983 appeared in what were then four of the top ten highest-grossing movies ever. ... This article is for the film The World Is Not Enough, for the video game based upon the film, see The World Is Not Enough (video game). ... For the ornithologist see James Bond (ornithologist). ... Rollerball was the name of several works: Rollerball was a 1975 science fiction film. ... Jean Reno (born Don Juan Moreno y Jederique Jimenez, July 30, 1948 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a French actor. ...

Reference

• US State Department (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5487.htm)

External links

• Travel guide to Kazakhstan from Wikitravel
• FantasticAsia.net: Travel information about South Kazakhstan (http://www.FantasticAsia.net/?p=2)
• President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (http://www.president.kz/)
• Welcome to Kazakhstan!!! (http://www.kz/)
• Government of Kazakhstan (http://www.government.kz/en/default.asp)
• National Bank of Kazakhstan (http://www.nationalbank.kz/?switch=eng)
• [3] (http://www.centralasiatravel.com)
• Hand made carpets from Kazakhstan (http://www.bukhara-carpets.com/)
• Map of contaminated zones in red (http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/voyageurs/etrangers/avis/conseils/images/cartes/KAZAKHSTAN/kazakhstan.gif)

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The State of the Vatican City ( Latin: Status Civitatis Vaticanæ), is a landlocked enclave surrounded by the city of Rome in Italy, and the smallest independent state in the world (both in area and in population). ... The coat of arms of the Holy See The term Holy See (Latin: Sancta Sedes, lit. ... Dependency has a number of meanings: In project management, a dependency is a link amongst a projects terminal elements. ... Map of Akrotiri (Western) SBA Akrotiri (also known as the Western Sovereign Base Area or WSBA) and Dhekelia (also known as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area or ESBA) are UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus, a former British Crown Colony. ... Motto: None Official language Faroese Capital Tórshavn Monarch Margrethe II Prime Minister Jóannes Eidesgaard Area  - Total  - % water World ranking: 189th 1,399 km² — Population  - Total (2004)  - Density World ranking: 211th 48,228 33. ... Motto: Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (Latin: Conquered By No Enemy) Languages English (official), an English-influenced Spanish dialect called Llanito is also spoken Capital (Gibraltar) Coordinates 36°07′ N 5°21′ W Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir Francis Richards Chief Minister Peter Caruana Area  - Total  - % water not ranked (192 if... The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. ... Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Island, a part of the Kingdom of Norway, is a 373-square-kilometer arctic volcanic island partly covered by glaciers and divided into two parts by a narrow isthmus. ... The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. ... The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin in Manx), a British crown dependency, lies in the Irish Sea almost equidistant from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ... Svalbard, part of the Kingdom of Norway, lies in the Arctic Ocean north of mainland Europe. ... 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The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (in Russian: Содружество Независимых Государств (СНГ) - Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv) is a confederation or alliance consisting of 12 of the 15 former Soviet Republics, the exceptions being the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Kazakhstan Russia Tajikistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Commonwealth of Independent States Georgia (country) Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan Template:Commonwealth of Independent States Wikipedia:WikiProject Countries/Footers 2004 Summer Olympics medals count by International Organization List of FIFA country codes Economy of Asia... Armenia - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a country in the Caucasus, in the crossroads of Europe and Southwest Asia, with an east coast on the Caspian Sea. ... Belarus (Belarusian: Белару́сь or Biełaruś, Russian: Белару́сь (formerly: Белору́ссия), Polish: Białoruś) is a landlocked nation of Eastern Europe with the capital Minsk. ... Georgia ( Georgian: საქართველო Sakartvelo), known from 1991 to 1995 as the Republic of Georgia, is a country to the east of the Black Sea in the southern Caucasus. ... Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан, variously transliterated), officially the Kyrgyz Republic, and sometimes known as Kirghizia, is a country in Central Asia. ... The Republic of Moldova is a landlocked country in eastern Europe, located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the east. ... The Russian Federation (Russian: Росси́йская Федера́ция, transliteration: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya or Rossijskaja Federacija), or Russia (Russian: Росси́я, transliteration: Rossiya or Rossija), is a country that stretches over a vast expanse of eastern Europe and northern Asia. ... National anthem Surudi milli Official language Tajiki-Persian Capital Dushanbe President Emomali Rahmonov Prime Minister Akil Akilov Area  – Total  – % water Ranked 92nd  143,100 km²  0. ... National anthem Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem Capital Ashgabat President and Prime Minister Saparmurat Niyazov Official language Turkmen Area  – Total  – % water Ranked 51st  488,100 km²  Negligible Population  – Total (2002)  – Density Ranked 113th  4,603,244  9. ... Ukraine (Україна, Ukrayina in Ukrainian; Украина in Russian) is a republic in eastern Europe which borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest and the Black Sea to the south. ... National anthem National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan Capital Tashkent President Islam Karimov Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev Official language Uzbek Area  – Total  – % water Ranked 55th  447,400 km²  4. ...