Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a vast country, one of the ten largest in the world by area. It is washed by the largest lake in the world, the Caspian Sea, holds part of the Aral Sea and the unique semi-freshwater Lake Balkhash. This variety of landscapes creates a rich natural world: majestic peaks, sparkling glaciers, quiet forests, mysterious deserts, huge rocky canyons, emerald lakes, rushing rivers and unique flora and fauna.

It is the land of the oldest culture of the Eurasian continent, the cradle of nomadic tribes and a section of the Great Silk Road.

The country covers 2.72 million square kilometres. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the southeast and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the south. It stretches from the lower Volga in the west to the foothills of the Altai in the east, and from the lowlands of Western Siberia in the north to the Kyzylkum Desert in the south. The desert plains seem endless.

More than three quarters of Kazakhstan are plains at 100 to 300 metres above sea level. In the far southeast and east rise the Tien Shan, Dzungarian Alatau and Altai ranges, from 3,000 to 6,995 metres (Khan Tengri peak). In the west lies the Caspian Depression, partly below sea level (the Caspian is at -27 metres).

The climate is strongly continental. Average January temperatures range from -19 to -4 °C and July temperatures from +19 to +26 °C. From north to south there are different climate zones and soils, each with its own flora and fauna.

Although it is one of the largest countries in the world, its population barely reaches 20 million.