Introduction

From the course "The physical geography of Kazakhstan" you have learnt about boundless open spaces of our Native land, about features of the nature of Kazakhstan and the variety of its riches.

Now you will study natural resources and republic economy. "The economic and social geography of Kazakhstan­" is one of the school courses, which studying gives bases of economic-geographical knowledge.

The term economic geography was applied for the first time by Great Russian scientist M.V.Lomonosov.

The economic geography is the science studying laws ­ of geographical placing of manufacture, a condition and feature ­ of its development in certain territories.

The subject "The economic and social geography of Kazakhstan" studies an environment and their influence on national economy, natural resources and their use in the form of raw materials, features of moving of people, placings, development and the territorial organisation ­ of branches of an economy.

In the course "The economic and social geography of Kazakhstan" problems of the social direction (life, work and rest of people of Kazakhstan, sphere of service of the population), environmental problems ­(preservation of the environment from industrial ­ pollution, careful use and reproduction of natural resources­) are also considered ­­­.

The primary goals of the course "The economic and social geography ­ of Kazakhstan": formation of economic-geographical knowledge­, acquaintance to principles of rational use of natural resources­, a finding of optimum ways of the decision of modern ­ environmental problems, development of abilities to use the knowledge in an everyday life.

On December, 16th, 1991 Kazakhstan has been declared by the independent republic ­ which ­ sovereignty recognised over hundred twenty countries of the world. Kazakhstan became a member of the world international organisations, including most authoritative of them - the United Nations Organization. In republic embassies of many states are accredited.

After reception of independence Kazakhstan on the post-Soviet territory ­ on political and democratic transformations left ­ on the advanced positions. The considerable factor of the Kazakhstan success is presence of the long-term program, specific goals ­ and the highly skilled policy for their achievement.

State language is Kazakh. Together with it in state structures and local self-government institutions Russian is applied.

Country capital is Astana. The city of Almaty has the special rights.

Currency is tenge. It was entered on November, 15th, 1993

The republic Kazakhstan is the unitary state with a presidential government­.

In 1992 at session of the Supreme body of Republic Kazakhstan the State Emblem, National flag and a country National anthem have been confirmed.

On January, 28th, 1993 the Republic Kazakhstan Constitution has been accepted.

Achieving successes, Kazakhstan has set the task about occurrence in number ­ 50 competitive countries of the world.

Till 1997 the republic territory has been divided into 19 areas­. In the conditions of social and economic reorganisation such administrative-territorial ­ division did not correspond to requirements ­ of efficient control the country. There was an essential ­ economic inequality between areas that negative impact on all national economy has made. The question on necessity of change of structure of administrative-territorial ­ system became actual­.

According to item 9 of the Law of Republic Kazakhstan "About administrative-territorial ­ structure of Republic Kazakhstan" in 1997 decrees of the president about dissolution of five areas have been accepted­. It is Zhezkazgan area (nowadays is a part of the Karaganda ­ area); Kokshetau area (was a part the North Kazakhstan and Akmola areas, the city of Kokshetau became the centre of Akmola area), Semei area (was a part of the East Kazakhstan area), Taldykorgan area ­(was a part of the Almaty area the city of Taldykorgan became which centre); Torgai area (the territory has joined ­ Akmola and Kostanai areas).

Now in republic there are 14 areas, 86 cities, about 200 settlements of city type.

The textbook maintenance is divided into three parts.

Part I. The general economy-geographical characteristic of Kazakhstan. Here you learn about the main features economic - geographical position of Kazakhstan, natural resources, the population­, labour resource, and also development and placing of branches of an economy of republic.

Part II. Geography of economic region of Kazakhstan. In this part you will familiarise with principles of economic division into districts ­ and formation in Kazakhstan of five economic regions, receive data on directions of their specialisation, and also learn about economic-geographical position each area, natural resources and an economy, interdistrict and external economic relations­.

Part III. Kazakhstan in the modern world. In this part you receive ­ knowledge of geopolitical position of Kazakhstan on the world map, about membership of our country in the United Nations Organization and other international organisations, about external economic relations, wildlife management and wildlife management problems ­ in Kazakhstan. Besides, in the textbook the additional ­ information on an environment and natural resources­, their use, features of placing of the population, the territorial ­ organisation of branches of economy of areas of the country is offered­­­.

Part I

THE GENERAL ECONOMIC-GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF KAZAKHSTAN