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Kara Kum

(Encyclopedia)Kara Kum kärˌə ko͝omˈ [key], two deserts, one in Kazakhstan and one in Turkmenistan. The Caspian Kara Kum or Garagum, the larger desert (c.115,000 sq mi/297,900 sq km), is W of the Amu Darya Rive...

Baikonur Cosmodrome

(Encyclopedia)Baikonur or Baykonur Cosmodrome both: bīˌkəno͞orˈ [key], formerly secret aerospace launch complex, Qyzylorda prov., S central Kazakhstan, near Baikonur (originally, 1958–95, Leninsk) but c.200 ...

Emba

(Encyclopedia)Emba ĕmˈbə [key], river, c.400 mi (640 km) long, W Kazakhstan. It rises in the Mugodzhar Mts. and flows SW into the Caspian Sea. The lower course traverses an area of salt domes and the petroleum-r...

Syr Darya

(Encyclopedia)Syr Darya or Syrdarya both: sēr däryäˈ, –därˈyə [key], ancient Jaxartes or Yaxartes, Pers. Sihun, river, c.1,380 mi (2,220 km) long, flowing through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. On...

Tobol

(Encyclopedia)Tobol təbôlˈ [key], river, c.1,050 mi (1,690 km) long, rising in the Mugodzhar Hills, NE Kazakhstan. It flows NE past Qostanay, into Russia, and past Kurgan to join the Irtysh River at Tobolsk. It ...

Temirtau

(Encyclopedia)Temirtau or Temir-Tau both: tyĭmēr-touˈ [key], city (1989 pop. 212,382), NE Kazakhstan, on the Nura River. It is an industrial center, with a large steel plant. Temirtau is also the site of the Sam...

Mangyshlak Peninsula

(Encyclopedia)Mangyshlak Peninsula mən-gĭshläkˈ [key], W Kazakhstan, extending into the NE Caspian Sea. Except for the Kara-Tau range, the peninsula is below sea level; Batyr Sink is c.430 ft (130 m) below sea ...

Mugodzhar Hills

(Encyclopedia)Mugodzhar Hills mo͞ogəjärˈ [key], range, c.275 mi (440 km) long, E Kazakhstan. The southern spur of the Urals, it forms the divide between the Caspian and the Aral basins. Its highest point is c.2...

Zaysan, Lake

(Encyclopedia)Zaysan, Lake zīsänˈ [key], freshwater lake, c.700 sq mi (1,810 sq km), SE Kazakhstan, in the Altai Mts. It is crossed by the Irtysh River. It abounds in fish. The lake has risen 20 ft (6 m) above i...

Ekibastuz

(Encyclopedia)Ekibastuz ĕkēbästo͝osˈ [key], city, N Kazakhstan. It is the industrial center of a bituminous ...