LocationCentral Asia, north of Uzbekistan.
Area2,717,300 sq km (1,049,150 sq miles).
Population15.4 million (UN, 2005).
Population Density5.7 per sq km.
CapitalAstana (formerly called Akmola).
Population: 600,000 (2004).
GovernmentRepublic.
LanguageThe official language is Kazakh, a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Turkish. The Government has begun to replace the Russian Cyrillic alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile,
the Cyrillic alphabet is in general use and most people in the cities can speak Russian, whereas country people tend to only speak Kazakh. English is usually spoken by those involved in tourism. Uygur and other regional languages and dialects are also spoken.
ReligionMainly Sunni Muslim. There are Russian Orthodox and Jewish minorities. There are 10 independent denominations of Christianity. The Kazakhs do not express their religious feelings fervently – Kazakhstan is an outlying district of the Muslim world and a meeting point of Russian, Chinese and Central Asian civilizations. Islam plays a minor role in policy and there are no significant Islamic political organizations in the country.
TimeKazakhstan is divided into three time zones:
Eastern zone: GMT + 6.
Central zone (including Astana): GMT + 5.
Western zone: GMT + 4.
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin continental plugs are standard.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Karim Masimov since 2007.
Head of StatePresident Nursultan A Nazarbayev since 1991.
TelephoneCountry code: 7. International calls can be made at a reduced rate from 2000-0800 local time. All major cities are equipped with card operated phones. Cards can be purchased at kiosks, and can be used to make international calls. The best card to make international calls with is an
i-card+.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good around the main cities.
InternetThere are Internet cafes in most towns and cities. Internet access is also available in major hotels, but services are usually more expensive than in cafes.
Media
PostFull postal facilities are available at main post offices in the cities, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The main post office in Almaty is located on Ulitsa Kurmangazy. International postal communication is undertaken by the firms
Blitz-Pochta,
International Press and
Press Limited.
Delivery within the republic takes three to five days. Post to Western Europe and the USA takes between two to three weeks. Mail addresses should be laid out in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and, lastly, the person’s name. Visitors can also use post offices located within major hotels.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800.
Press• The most popular dailies are
Ekspress K,
Kazakhstanskaya Pravda and
Yegemen Kazakhstan.
Radio• Kazakh Radio is state owned.
• Private stations include
Europa Plus and
Khabar Hit FM.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1-2 Jan New Year.
7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
22 Mar Nauryz Meyrami (Traditional Spring Holiday).
1 May Kazakhstan People’s Unity Day.
9 May Victory Day.
30 Aug Constitution Day.
25 Oct Republic Day.
16 Dec Independence Day.
20 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
2008
1-2 Jan New Year.
7 Jan Russian Orthodox Christmas.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
22 Mar Nauryz Meyrami (Traditional Spring Holiday).
1 May Kazakhstan People’s Unity Day.
9 May Victory Day.
30 Aug Constitution Day.
25 Oct Republic Day.
16 Dec Independence Day.
9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
NoteMuslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.
Contact Information:State Agency for Tourism and Sport473000 Astana, Mukhtar Auezor 126, Kazakhstan
Tel: (3272) 396 638.
Website:
www.kazsport.kz Hotel Complex Otrar and Travel & Air Agencyul Gogolya 73, Hotel Otrar, Almaty 480002, Kazakhstan
Tel: (3272) 730 075/045.
Website:
www.group.kz Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the UK33 Thurloe Square, London SW7 2SD, UK
Tel: (020) 7581 4646 (ext 207/8 for visa section)
or (09065) 508 978 (recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website:
www.kazakhstanembassy.org.uk Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1830; Mon-Fri 0900-1200 (consular section, closed Wednesdays except for nationals of Kazakhstan and closed on Kazakhstan national holidays).
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 232 5488.
Website:
www.kazakhembus.com
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