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'''Kazakhstan''' (Republic of Kazakhstan), is a country in Central [[Asia]].  Its capital is Astana.

'''Kazakhstan''' (Republic of Kazakhstan), is a country in central [[Asia]].  Its capital is Astana.

    

    

==Geography==

==Geography==

It is a former member of the [[USSR]]. With an area of approximately 2.7 million square kilometers, Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world. It is a landlocked nation, bordering [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and the [[Caspian Sea]]. The [[Aral Sea]] is also partially contained within Kazakhstan's borders, and the country's government has made recent efforts to save the Aral Sea from environmental disaster [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6538073.stm].

Kazakhstan is a former member of the [[USSR]]. It has an area of approximately 2.7 million square kilometers, and is the ninth largest country (by area) in the world. It is a landlocked nation, bordering [[China]], [[Russia]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and the [[Caspian Sea]]. The [[Aral Sea]] is also partially contained within Kazakhstan's borders, and the country's government has made recent efforts to save the Aral Sea from environmental disaster [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6538073.stm].

*Area: 2.7 million sq. km. (1.05 million sq. mi.); ninth-largest nation in the world; the size of Western Europe.  

*Area: 2.7 million sq. km. (1.05 million sq. mi.); ninth-largest nation in the world; the size of Western Europe.  

*Major cities: Astana (capital, June 1998), Almaty (former capital and largest city), Karaganda, and Shymkent.

*Major cities: Astana (capital, June 1998), Almaty (former capital and largest city), Karaganda, and Shymkent. Aktau is a booming oil town

*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.

*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.

*Climate: Continental, cold winters and hot summers; arid and semi-arid.

*Climate: Continental, cold winters and hot summers; arid and semi-arid.