Kazakhstan is located in two parts of the world, on the border of Europe and Asia; most of the country is situated in Central Asia, the smaller part is in Eastern Europe. It shares borders with Russia in the north and west, in the east with China, in the south with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. One-third of the territory is occupied by steppes, which makes it the largest dry-steppe region in the world. Besides, the territory of Kazakhstan includes taiga, rocky canyons, snow-capped mountains, and deserts. Even though the country has no access to the ocean, it is washed by the waters of the inland Caspian and Aral seas.
Independence date: December 16th, 1991
Languages: Kazakh is a state language and Russian is an official language
Currency: tenge (KZT, number 398)
Internet domain: .kz and .қаз
Phone code: +7
Time zone: UTC+5 / +6 (West / East)
Area: 2,724,900 km2
Population: Approximately 19 million
Capital: Astana
Big cities: Almaty (1 854 656), Astana (1 078 384), Shymkent (1 009 086)
State Symbols: Kazakh Flag, Kazakh Emblem
Kazakh Flag: The sky blue color of the flag symbolizes a bright sky, peace, and prosperity. The sun in the center represents wealth and abundance, life, and strength. The image of an eagle is perceived as a symbol of freedom, fidelity, and courage. It reflects the desire of the young sovereign state to the heights of world civilization.
Kazakh Emblem: The image of the shanyrak, the upper domed part of the yurt, is the image of the house for all people living in Kazakhstan. Shanyrak in a broader sense is a symbol of the world as a universe. The emblem also features a mythical horse with wings, Tulpar. These two horses protect the shanyrak from two sides. They clearly express the idea of serving the Motherland. Another detail is a five-pointed star. The image of a star in the state emblem reflects the desire of Kazakhstanis to create a country open for cooperation and partnership with all peoples of the world.
