Geography of Kazakhstan

Map of Kazakhstan

This article describes the geography of Kazakhstan.

Area--comparative:: About two times the size of Alaska
Land boundaries: Total: 12,012 km Border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km

Coastline:: 0 km (landlocked). Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km).
Maritime claims:: None (landlocked)
Climate:: Continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain:: Extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m Highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

Natural resources:: Major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use: Arable land: 12% Permanent crops: 11% Permanent pastures: 57% Forests and woodland:4% Other: 16% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land:: 22,000 km² (1996 est.)
Natural hazards:: Earthquakes in the south, mud slides around Almaty
Environment--current issues:: Radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
Environment--international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol