Is Kazakhstan in Europe?
Kazakhstan is a big country with lots of different landscapes. People often wonder where it is and which continent it belongs to. In this article, we’ll learn is Kazakhstan in Europe or not, where it is and more.
Kazakhstan- In Europe or Asia?
The answer to this question depends on precisely where Europe ends. Europe and Asia are two continents that share a tectonic plate, making it difficult to draw a defining boundary to separate them. Traditionally, natural features- the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, the Greater Caucasus Watershed, the Dardanelles Sea, the Bosporus Strait, and the Aegean Sea- are considered the natural boundaries that divide the two continents. About 10% of the total area of Kazakhstan falls to the west of the Ural River. West Kazakhstan and the Atyrau province lie on either side of the Ural River, making Kazakhstan a transcontinental country.
Kazakhstan is a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), which is made up of NATO members and 20 other partner countries. Lending more support to its European identity is the fact that Kazakhstan is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe(OSCE).
Despite all this, Kazakhstan is quintessentially a Central Asian country. It aligns closely with other Central Asian countries including Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. but a small portion of its territory extends into Eastern Europe. However, many consider Kazakhstan more closely tied to Central Asia culturally and historically.
Why is this Question Asked?
Following may be the reasons:
- Cultural Mix – European and Asian influences have shaped Kazakhstan’s culture.
- Politics – While Kazakhstan isn’t in any big European groups, it does have agreements with the European Union.
Where is Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan lies in Central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the west. The country has a coastline along the Caspian Sea to the southwest. Positioned above the equator, Kazakhstan’s geographical coordinates are latitude 48.0196° N and longitude 66.9237° E.
Interesting Facts about Kazakhstan
- Baikonur Cosmodrome, south-central Kazakhstan, is the world’s oldest and largest operational space launch facility. Many historic space missions have used it, including the launch of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, in 1961.
- Kazakhstan has a long history of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among various ethnicities. The world recognizes Kazakhstan for its role in nuclear non-proliferation, as it voluntarily gave up the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal after the Soviet Union collapsed.
- Kazakhstan is rich in natural resources like oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, and metals such as copper and zinc. It is one of the world’s top producers of uranium.
- Kazakhstan is home to a diverse population of over 130 ethnic groups. Kazakhs are the largest ethnic group, followed by Russians. This diversity adds to the country’s rich mix of languages, traditions, and cuisines.
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