Overview of Kazakhstan

Officially name: The Republic of Kazakhstan

Capital: Astana

Largest city: Almaty

Official language: Kazakh, Russian

Government: Presidential republic

Land and Resources, Rivers and Lakes of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan contains an extensive network of rivers and several large lakes. Many of Kazakhstan’s rivers drain within the republic, although the Ishim, Irtysh, and Tobol rivers flow north into Russia and eventually drain into the Arctic Ocean. Due to dry weather conditions, the riverbeds of most of the republic’s small and medium-sized rivers remain dry for much of the year.