Tselinograd region is located in the northern part of Kazakhstan. The administration of the region is located in the city of Kokshetau. The region is agricultural and industrial, but the main specialization is agriculture and the processing of its products.
The mining industry is developed (mining of uranium, gold-bearing ores), mechanical engineering, and the production of building materials. There is a chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Geography of the region
Akmola (Tselinograd) region is located between the Kokshetau heights (the north of the region) and the Ulytau mountain range (south-west of the region). Rounded hills are formed by granites, pointed ones are formed by quartzites.
The area is crossed by the Ishim River. The northeast of the region is part of the West Siberian Lowland.
The climate is characterized as sharply continental, in which there is heat in summer and severe frost in winter. By the number of sunny days, the region is comparable to the tropics. Snow lasts an average of almost six months. Temperature fluctuations, both annual and daily, are quite substantial.
It has three contrasting parts from the point of view of geographers: southern, middle and northern.
The northern part has a flat relief. The soil, especially in the Irtysh, is sandy. Often there are salt marshes and accordingly saline lakes, in particular Dengiz Lake (Tengiz).
The middle part is indented by low mountains. The rivers Ishim, Nura and Sara-Su flow. The region is not very suitable for human habitation, although in some places it is still possible. Here are concentrated deposits of gold, copper, coal.
The southern part of the region is a waterless desert steppe. Its borders extend from the headwaters of the Sary-Su River to the Chu River. This part is called Bed-nak-dol, which means “The Hungry Steppe”.
Neighbors of the region are: from the east - Pavlodar region, from the west - Kostanai, in the north - North Kazakhstan, in the south - Karaganda.
The region covers an area of 146.2 thousand square meters. km
History of Tselinograd region
The Tselinograd region has a rich history, during which it underwent repeated changes, both territorial and in name.
For the first time, the region was mentioned in 1868 by the “Provisional Regulation on Management in the Steppe Regions of the Orenburg and West Siberian Governor General”, when 6 regions were formed on the territory of Kazakhstan. One of them was the Akmola region (the center was in the city of Omsk). Counties: Akmolinsky, Petropavlovsky, Atbasarsky, Omsk and Kokchetavsky entered the region.
In 1928, the Akmola region was transformed into the Akmola district, but two years later it was liquidated in connection with the new administrative-territorial division.
In October 1939, the Akmola region was again restored. Its center was the city of Akmolinsk. Administratively, the region consisted of fifteen districts and lasted until 1960. On December 26, 1960, the region was again abolished, and its capital, Akmolinsk, received the status of the center of the Tselinny Territory. But after just three months, Akmolinsk received the name Tselinograd (in honor of raising the virgin lands), and on April 24 the region was formed again, but already called Tselinograd, which included 17 districts.
The collapse of the Soviet Union caused new transformations in Kazakhstan. In April 1992, Tselinograd was again renamed to Akmola, and the region - to Akmola. The former Tselinograd region, the regions of which underwent changes by the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan dated April 8, 1999, moved its capital from the city of Astana (formerly Akmolinsk) to the city of Kokshetau.
Executive branch
Akimat is a regional executive authority of the republic. The head of the akimat (akim) is appointed by the president of the republic.
The akimat of the Tselinograd region is represented by eleven departments in various spheres of the economy and vital activities of the region and two state institutions (the Department of Tourism and the Department of Passenger Transport and Highways).
Akimat departments carry out planning and use of the regional budget, and organize the economic activities of the region. Their competence includes issues of transport, land management, resource use, compliance with the law and order, etc.
Currently, the akim of the region is Sergey Vitalievich Kulagin. The head of the region was born and raised in the Akmola (Tselinograd) region. He was appointed to the post of akim of the region twice: in September 1998 and in May 2014.
Shortandy district
As a result of the last transformations of 1939, the Tselinograd region grew territorially: Shortandy district became its new administrative entity.
29 362 people live in the district. The population density is 6.2 people / sq. km In the Shortandy district, 37% of Russians, 31.7% of Kazakhs, 8.3% of Ukrainians, 7% of Germans live. The remaining nationalities are represented by 16 percent. The administrative center of the district is located in the city of Shortandy.
The occupied area is 4700 square kilometers.
Arshaly district
Vishnevsky district of Tselinograd region - that was the name of today's Arshalynsky district until 1997.
The area occupied by the district is 5, 800 square kilometers, 27, 081 people live on it. The population density is 4.7 people / sq. km
In addition to Kazakhs (37.3%), Russians (43.4%), Ukrainians (5.7%), Germans (5.5%), Belarusians, Tatars (less than 2%), Poles, Moldovans, Ingush, Chechens, Bashkirs (less than 1%).
Sandyktau district
This region managed to “survive” several transformations together with the Akmola region. It was founded in 1928, at a time when the Akmola region was transformed into the Akmola district. Then, since 1936, it was called the Molotov District. And in 1957, on the map of the Akmola region (three years later already referred to as the Tselinograd region), the Balkashinsky district was replaced, in turn, by Molotovsky. Under this name, the district existed until 1997, when it was returned to its historical name - Sandyktau district.
The area covers an area of 6, 400 square meters. km On its territory 20 010 people live, the density is 3.1 people / sq. km The region is mainly inhabited by Kazakhs (20.13%), Russians (56.67%) and Germans (6.62%).
Cities that were not on the map
Stepnogorsk (Tselinograd Oblast - now Akmolinskaya) was founded in 1959, 199 km from Astana, but on maps it appeared only in the second half of the 80s. The secrecy of the settlement was explained by the location of the "Virgin Mining and Chemical Combine" and the "Stepnogorsk Scientific Experimental Industrial Base" in it. The first was engaged in the processing of uranium ore, and the "base" - in the development and production of bacteriological weapons.
The population of the city is multinational (over 70 nationalities). Russians make up more than 50% of the population, Kazakhs - 34.5%.
Currently, city enterprises produce gold, uranium, and molybdenum.
The city of Alekseevka, Tselinograd region (now Akmola) was founded in 1965. Within it is the Ak-Kul railway station. Of the industrial enterprises there is a creamery and a plant for the production of building materials. The remaining enterprises relate to railway transport.
The city itself is more associated with the Ak-Kul railway station, since since its inception it was considered a closed facility. This was due to the alleged UFO crash and work to investigate its crash site.
Currently, the city is called Akkol.
Interesting Facts
The end of the 18th - the beginning of the 19th centuries was a very difficult period for the Kazakh khanates of the Younger and Middle Zhuz: constant raids by neighbors harassed the Kazakhs and forced them to seek protection from their northern neighbor - Russia.
The formation of the Tselinograd region is directly related to the struggle of the Kazakhs for independence, which led them to Russian patronage.
Kanatzhan Alibekov, a well-known microbiologist, an expert in the field of infectious diseases, biotechnologies, and immunology, worked in Stepnogorsk. Under his leadership, the production of a combat strain of such a terrible disease as anthrax was organized.
In 1990-1991, Alibekov led the closure of the program for the development and production of bacteriological weapons.
On the territory of the region is the famous State National Natural Park "Burabay", created in 2000. The park occupies 83.5 thousand hectares. On its territory there are 14 lakes. On one of them (Lake Borovoe) is a resort of national importance. Around the lake are mountains with forests and, of course, endless Kazakh steppes. For its beauty, the park was named “Kazakh Switzerland”. In the local forests you can meet wild animals: lynx, wolf, wild boar, elk, deer and other animals.
Near the capital of the region is the second State National Natural Park - Kokshetau. It occupies a larger area than Burabay, an area of 182 thousand hectares. Its territory has many lakes, mountains, forests, steppes. In the lakes there are whitefish and ripus - valuable fish species. Visitors are offered both walking and horseback riding routes, as well as the opportunity to stay in a traditional Kazakh dwelling.
