§ 2. The environment and resources of kazakhstan

Environment. Environment of any country consists of an environment and natural resources. The lay of land, a soil cover, environmental conditions, solar heat and a water mode concern an environment. A variety of the environment ­ is reflected in economic activities of the person, on character of development of productive forces. The environment ­ can be favorable and adverse and in industrial ­ and non-productive fields of activity of the person directly is not used. As the most part of territory of Kazakhstan is occupied with plains it is possible to tell that a republic environment favours to agriculture and industry development­, a construction of roads.

Environment in aggregate with natural resources forms environment.

Natural resources are necessary for economy development ­ natural riches which direct application in national economy finds and influences its development. Natural resources are made by minerals, soil, water, atmospheric air­, a plant and animal life.

Natural resources are power and social production raw-material base.

Natural resources are classified on degree of their protection and rational use. Kazakhstan has large stocks of minerals­. From 109 chemical elements of periodic system of Mendeleyev ­ in bowels of Kazakhstan are reconnoitered 99 from which 60 are already investigated and are used in manufacture.

Mineral resources. Feature of placing of mineral resources of Kazakhstan consists in their concentration. Besides, they lie down close to the terrestrial surface owing to what extraction of ore and other minerals by open way is possible and also complex use that reduces their cost price. On stocks of mineral resources Kazakhstan is on 6th place in the world. In republic is more than half of world's reserves of chrome, there are considerable stocks of lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver. On tungsten stocks our country occupies 1 place in the world, chromite, uranium and phosphorus - 2 place, manganese - 3 (after the USA and Ukraine), lead and molybdenum - 4, gland - 8 place. On oil stocks Kazakhstan advances many countries.

Land resources. The total area of land resources of Kazakhstan ­ makes 270,1 million in hectare, from them of 82 % are suitable for agricultural using. In valleys of the large rivers irrigation agriculture is developed. On the irrigation earths are grown up­ cotton, a sugar beet, rice. Here is warm enough for maturing and other agricultural crops. On the plains ­ located in the central and southwest parts of the country­, few deposits drop out, therefore they are used basically ­ under pastures. On the area of the opened earths the republic is on 6th place in the world, and among the CIS countries occupies 2 place after Russia.

Water resources. Water resources are suitable for use ­ in a national economy of water of the rivers, lakes, channels, water basins­, the seas and oceans, underground waters, soil moisture, water (ices) of glaciers and snow cover, water steams of atmosphere­. In Kazakhstan is not enough water resources, also are distributed they non-uniformly. The volume of surface water is equal to 115,3 billion m3, including 60,4 billion m3 - internal waters, and 54,9 billion m3 arrive from the next basins. The river network in Kazakhstan is developed poorly. Here proceeds about 85 thousand rivers, extent about 8 thousand from them exceeds 10 km. Waters of many rivers are lost in salt marches and sandy soils.

In republic is available over 48 thousand lakes which total area ­ makes 45 thousand km2. Large lakes: Balkhash, Zaisan, Alakol, Tengiz, Selety, Sasykkol, Kushmurun, Markakol and etc. In republic territory more than 4 thousand water basins ­ and dams are also built. They are used for an irrigation of the irrigation earths, development of the electric power for requirements of industrial production ­ and municipal services.

Biological resources. The nature of Kazakhstan differs with variety ­ of flora. Here meets over 5700 kinds ­ of vegetation 14 % from which are characteristic only for Kazakhstan­, 279 kinds are brought in the Red book of republic. In Kazakhstan there are not enough woods, they occupy only 4 % of the total area ­ of territory of the country. The basic part of woods consists from saxauls which are extended mainly in deserts. Coniferous woods are met in mountains Tien-Shan and Zhongar Alatau, on Altai. Kazakhstan is presented by 155 kinds of mammals, 480 kinds ­ of birds, 49 versions of reptiles, 150 - fish. The republic is rich ­ with fish resources; only 90 % live in the Caspian Sea from an aggregate number of all sturgeon fish. With a view of preservation of biological resources special natural territories are created. For today in Kazakhstan there are ­ 10 reserves.