Political Structure, Geography and Economy

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a sovereign state in the centre of the Eurasian continent. The official language is Kazakh. The Russian language is officially used on equal grounds along with Kazakh. The main law of the state is the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was adopted in 1995. According to the Constitution Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of government. It proclaims itself as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. The highest representative body that performs legislative functions is the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Parliament consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Mazhilis. The national currency is tenge.

The population of Kazakhstan is about 15,400,000: 57% urban, 43% rural. The most numerous nations are Kazakh, Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, German, Tatar, Uigur.

The territory of the country stretches 1,600 km from north to south and 2,800 km from west to east. The total area is 2.7 mln. square km. Kazakhstan borders on Russia to the north, China to the east, Kyrgistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the south, and the Caspian sea to the west. The landscape of Kazakhstan is diverse. There are vast lowlands and highest mountains covered with everlasting snows and glaciers (the Tyan-Shan, the Alatau, the Altay). Steppes, deserts and semi-deserts predominate on the largest part of Kazakhstan.

There are a lot of full rivers in the Republic. The main rivers are the Irtish, the Ural, the Ishim, the Sirdarya, the Tobol. There are 48,000 large and small lakes. The largest of them are the Balkhash, the Zaysan, the Alokol, the Tengiz.

There are some natural reservations: the Barsakelmes, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Almatinsky, etc., the Bayanaul national natural park.

On the territory of the Republic there are 155 species of mammals, 480 species of birds, 150 of fish, 250 of plants.

The long distance to the oceans and the large territory of the country influence greatly the climatic conditions. The climate is sharply continental and it varies widely throughout the country.

The economic structure of the country is based on its vast deposits of natural resources such as ore, oil, natural gas. Eastern Kazakhstan is rich in polymetal ores containing lead, zinc, copper, gold, silver. Central Kazakhstan is famous for hard coal deposits. About 30% of the Republic’s hard coal stocks are concentrated here. Considerable resources of oil and natural gas, chromate and copper are in Western Kazakhstan. According to the oil and gas reserves Kazakhstan can be classified as one of the largest oil-extracting countries of the world. The main branches of industry are ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, production of heavy machinery, industrial equipment, chemicals, textiles, processed foods, timber cutting.

In addition Kazakhstan is a major producer and exporter of agricultural products, primarily grain, wool and meat. Northern Kazakhstan is the granary of the country. About three quarters of agricultural land are used for grain production. Southern Kazakhstan is the main centre of irrigated viticulture with well-developed cotton, sugar beet and rice growing.

Kazakhstan is one of the richest countries of the world concerning its natural and manpower resources. The economy is oriented to the creation of free market in the democratic society. The private sector is experiencing an unbelievable growth making the basis for the future economic stability of the state.

III. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:

vast lowlands; a sovereign state; everlasting snows; natural reservations; to border on; legislative functions; throughout the country; a relatively developed economic structure; a major producer; natural resources; to be famous for; hard coal deposits; an oil-extracting country; three quarters.

IV. Translate the words in the brackets into English:

1. The Parliament consists of (две палаты): the Senate and the Mazhilis.

2. There are a lot of (крупные реки) in the Republic.

3. Steppes, deserts and semi-deserts (преобладать) on the largest part of the territory.

4. There are 155 species of (млекопитающие).

5. The economy (ориентирована) to the creation of free market.

6. (Кроме того) Kazakhstan is a major producer and exporter of agricultural products.

V. Find the Russian equivalents to the following words and word combinations in the right-hand column:

1) economic stability 2) well-developed 3) to stretch 4) total area 5) throughout the country 6) legislative functions 7) numerous nations 8) glacier 9) to influence greatly 10) to be experiencing

a) ледник b) значительно влиять c) многочисленные нации d) по всей стране e) испытывать f) экономическая стабильность g) хорошо развитый h) законодательные функции i) общая площадь j) простираться

V. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is the Republic of Kazakhstan situated?

2. What state is it?

3. What is the official language?

4. When was the Constitution of the Republic adopted?

5. What is the Republic of Kazakhstan according to the Constitution?

6. What does it proclaim?

7. What is the highest representative body?

8. What is the population of the Republic?

9. What is the territory of the country?

10. What countries does Kazakhstan border on?

11. What is the landscape of the Republic?

12. What are the main rivers?

13. What are the largest lakes?

14. What are the natural reservations?

15. What is the climate of the Republic?

16. What is the economic structure based on?

17. What are the main branches of industry?

18. What agricultural products does Kazakhstan produce and export?

19. What is the role of the private sector in the country’s economy?

20. Be ready to speak of the geographical, political and economic positions of Kazakhstan.

ASTANA – THE CAPITAL OF KAZAKHSTAN

I. Read the following words and word combinations paying attention to their pronunciation:

1) millennium 2) BC = before Christ 3) the Grand Silk Route 4) numerous 5) prosperous 6) to mark the beginning 7) development of virgin and disused lands 8) to turn out to be 9) to grow into 10) meat-and-milk cattle breeding 11) poultry farming 12) volunteer 13) transfer 14) to promote 15) expediency 16) dome 17) victim 18) to devote

тысячелетие до нашей эры Великий шелковый путь многочисленный процветающий дать начало развитие (поднятие) целинных и залежных земель оказаться превратиться мясомолочное животноводство птицеводство доброволец перенос способствовать целесообразность купол жертва посвящать

II. Read and translate the text:

Astana – the Capital of Kazakhstan

Akmola steppes have always been the territory of interethnic communication of various nations and cultures. In the middle of the first millennium BC the Grand Silk Route ran through these steppes. Numerous caravan routes gave birth to cities with prosperous trade and handicrafts. In the XIX–th century Akmola was a substantial commercial and economic centre in the steppe. The history of Akmolinsk starts from the year of 1830, when the fortress with this name was established in the area of Karautkel by the Russian Empire. By the end of the XIX-th century it had become a district with the population of about 10,000. There were 3 churches, 5 schools and colleges and 3 factories.

Later Akmolinsk was developed as a large railway junction. During the Great Patriotic War (1941 – 1945) a lot of industrial enterprises were evacuated there. They marked the beginning of the industrial stage in the development of the city.

The development of virgin and disused lands which started in 1954 influenced greatly the formation of the city. Akmolinsk turned out to be a geographical centre of the vast virgin territory and became its administrative centre. The number of citizens increased significantly. Thousands of volunteers came to build the city and live there. In 1961 Akmolinsk changed its name to Tselinograd and grew into a modern city. Within ten years there appeared a bridge connecting the city with the park zone, a TV centre, new Institutes, schools, Museums, two wonderful palaces, some fashionable hotels, different institutions. The region became a great agricultural centre with well-developed agricultural machine - building, meat-and-milk cattle breeding and poultry farming.

In 1992 the city was returned its former name – Akmola. But in 1998 with the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Akmola, the city got a new symbolic name – Astana. This decision was promoted by economic, ecological and geographical expediency.

Astana is all in scaffolds. Construction goes on all round the city. Astana is the city of great construction projects. In 1999 it was awarded the prize “Cities – for peace” by the international organization UNESCO. It is the admission of the unique experience in developing the new capital of Kazakhstan.

There appeared a number of interesting monuments and sightseeings in Astana. The symbol of the capital and the country, of the nation, peace and life is the monument Astana - Bayterek. Bayterek is the name of a fairy-tale tree. Once a year the bird Samruk laid a gold egg in its branches. The egg was eaten by a dragon, and this process repeated constantly. The stylized tree with a dome-egg is a wonderful tower. The gold egg in the form of a globe simbolizes the sun, the uninterrupted process means alternating good and evil, winter and summer.The tower is in the very centre of the left-bank part of the capital where a new administrative and business centre is being constructed. There is a memorial devoted to the victims of political repressions. Another monument is devoted to the defenders of the Motherland. The monument “Nayza” symbolizes the unification of the three Kazakh zhuses.

Some old historical buildings were reconstructed. In two fine wooden houses built at the beginning of the XX-th century the Museum of Saken Seyfullin is housed. In front of the Museum there is a monument to the founder of the Kazakh literature. The palace “Tselinnik” was reconstructed and now it is called “Congress Hall”. The Palace of Youth opened in 1963 is called “Zhastar” now.

Nowadays Astana is becoming the international, business and cultural centre of not only Kazakhstan, but of the Eurasian continent as a whole.

III. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:

various nations and cultures; numerous caravan routes; within ten years; railway junction; it was awarded a prize; the bird Samruk laid a gold egg; in front of the Museum; the left-bank part; victims of political repressions; the unique experience.

IV. Find the corresponding Russian equivalents to the word combinations in the left-hand column:

prosperous trade and handicrafts to change a name to defenders of the Motherland a fairy – tale tree all round the city in the very centre

защитники Родины в самом центре процветающая торговля и ремесла изменять название на сказочное дерево по всему городу

V. Find out the sentences corresponding to the text. Prove them by the facts from the text:

1. The city was founded as a fortress.

2. The development of virgin and disused lands was one of the important

stages in the history of the city.

3. Akmolinsk was situated in the south of the country.

4. In the very centre of the left-bank part of the city the monument Astana –Bayterek is situated.

5. Astana is becoming the cultural centre of Europe.