Republic of Kazakhstan – situated in Central Asia. Kazakhstan borders on Russia in the north, China in the east, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the south, from the west its coasts are washed by the Caspian Sea.
Area of the republic is 2717300 km². The Capital is Astana. Population: 16846800 (1998).
Biggest cities: Almati, Karaganda, Chimkent.