Kazakhstan

How is the land laid out?

Western Kazakhstan

The southern edge of the West Siberian Lowlands continue in northern North Kazakhstan and Pavlodar Provinces, northwest East Kazakhstan as far as Semey, and the very northeast of Astana Province.

South of this lie the Kazakh Uplands--plateaus, including the eastern half of the Turgay one. Heights vary from 200 meters to nearly 1,600 meters. This occupies most of the nation's center.

Southwestern Kazakhstan

The Turanian Lowland continues in south central Kazakhstan, and all of it is desert except within river and mountain valleys.

Southern Kazakhstan deserts

Southeastern Kazakhstan

Eastern Kazakhstan

The remaining important river not mentioned in the above links is the Ishim River, which flows north through the north center of Kazakhstan on its way to the Irtysh.

Who lives there?

A caveat

Russian is probably the majority language across the north and east. Some of the Russian speakers are ethnic Kazakhs and Moslems. The ethnic Russians are Russian Orthodox Christians, at least in cultural background.

Elsewhere Kazakh is the probable majority language, and nearly everyone is a Sunni Moslem.

Almati is the only metropolitan area with a million residents.

West Kazakhstan, Aqtobe, Qostanay, Northern Kazakhstan, Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan Provinces
Mangistau and Atyrau Provinces
Astana Province
Qaragandi and Almati Provinces
Akmecet, South Kazakhstan and Taraz Provinces