General information about Kazakhstan
Capital – Astana 51°10′N 71°30′E /
Largest city – Almaty
Official languages – Kazakh
Demonym – Kazakhstani
Government – Presidential republic
President – Nursultan Nazarbaev
Independence – from Soviet Union
- 1st Khanate 1361 as Wite Horde
- 2nd Khanate 1428 as Uzbek Horde
- 3rd Khanate 1428 as Kazakh Khanate
Declared – December 16, 1991
Finalized – December 25, 1991
Area – Total 2,724,900 km2, Water 1.7%
Population January 2006 estimate 15,217,711
Currency – Tenge (ktz)
Time zone West/East +5/+6
Internet - .kz
Calling code +7
Public holidays in Kazakhstan 
January 1 - 2 – New Year:
March 8 – International Women Day:
March 22 – Nauryz Meyramy:
May 1 – Kazakhstan Nations Unity Holiday :
May 9 – Victory Day:
June 10 – Day of the capital:
August 30 – Constitution Day:
October 25 – Repiblic Day:
December 16 - Independence Day
Popular tourist destinations: Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, Almaty, Burabai, Taraz, Turkestan, and Zailiyski Alatau.
Geography
Kazakhstan lies in the north of the central Asian republics and is bounded by Russia in the north, China in the east, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the south, and the Caspian Sea and part of Turkmenistan in the west. It has almost 1,177 mi (1,894 km) of coastline on the Caspian Sea. Kazakhstan is about four times the size of Texas. The territory is mostly steppe land with hilly plains and plateaus.
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