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Places in News: Kazakhstan
Context:
During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on July 4th, the Indian External Affairs Minister met with the Chinese Foreign Minister for discussions.
About Kazakhstan
- It is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world.
- Official Name: Republic of Kazakhstan
- Form of Government: Unitary State, Presidential System
- Capital: Astana
- Official Languages: Kazakh, Russian
- Money: Tenge (KZT)
- Location: It is a landlocked country mostly in Central Asia, with a part in Eastern Europe.
⇒It borders Russia in the north and west, China in the east, and Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in the south.
- Geography: Diverse – deserts, steppes, Caspian Sea beaches, mountains.
- Highest Point: Khan Tengri (6,995 meters)
- Lowest Point: 132 meters below sea level (Karagiye depression).
- Major Rivers: It includes the Ishim, Irtush, Syr Dayra, Tobol, and Ural.
⇒ The largest bodies of water are the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea, and the lakes Alakal, Balkhash, Tengiz, and Zaysan.
- Economy: The economy is based on natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals. In terms of nuclear energy, the country is one of the major sources of Uranium.
- Climate: It experiences an extreme continental climate, with long, hot summers and cold winters.
- History: Formerly a part of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan declared independence in 1991.