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Kazakhstan Geography 2000 Location: Central Asia, northwest of China Geographic coordinates: 48 00 N, 68 00 E Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States Area:
Area - comparative: slightly less than four times the size of Texas Land boundaries:
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
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:
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:
Irrigated land: 22,000 sq km (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:
Geography - note: landlocked |
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