The head of the state: PresidentLegislature: Two-chamber parliament
Geographical location: in the Central Asia
Capital: Astana - 639,3 thousand people
Major cities: Almaty, Karaganda, Shimkent, Taraz, Pavlodar
Official languages: Kazakh, Russian
Religions: Muslims, Orthodox
Climate: continental, dry
Average temperature: from -18°C in the North to -3°C in the South in January; from +19°C in the North to +29°C in the South in July
Monetary unit: tenge (KZT)
Telephone country code: 731
International country code: KAZ
Internet domain: .kz
National holidays: October, 25th - the Republic Day (1990); December, 16th - the Independence Day (1991)
Major tourist sights: Almaty natural preserve, Balkhash lake resort area, "Chimbulak" Mountain Ski Resort, Hodja Ahmed Yasavi Mausoleum (XII century) in Turkestan, Karakhan Mausoleum (XI century) in Taraz; in Almaty: wooden Orthodox Cathedral (XIX century), Medeu Alpine winter Sports Complex
