Country Kazakhstan Region Akmola | Population 132,426 (2009) Area 400 km2 Mayor Zharkyn Zhumagulov | |
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University Kokshetau State University | ||
Map of Kokshetau
Kokshetau (Kazakh: Көкшетау / Kökşetaw), formerly known as Kokchetav (Russian: Кокчетав, until 1993) is the administrative center of Akmola Region, northern Kazakhstan. Population: 135,106 (2009 Census results); 123,389 (1999 Census results).
Contents
- Map of Kokshetau
- Kokshetau
- Kokshetau city 2014 may
- Geography
- History
- Climate
- Industry
- Transport
- Sister cities
- References
Kokshetau
Kokshetau city 2014 may
Geography
Kokshetau is some 300 kilometres (190 mi) north-west of the national capital of Astana. The Kokshetau area is known for its two national parks, Burabay and Kokshetau. The city of Kokshetau is located on the shores of Lake Kopa.
History
Kokshetau was founded in 1824 by Russian military as an outpost. The name of the city is of Kazakh origin literally meaning "a smoky-blue mountain". In 1868 it became a district center of Omskaya gubernia in the Russian Empire. In 1944 Kokchetav became the administrative center of the newly created Kokchetavskaya Oblast. In 1997 Kokshetau Oblast region was liquidated. In 1999 due to an administrative changes in the structure of Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions Kokshetau became the center of Akmola Oblast.
In late 1930s as a result of the Polish operation of the NKVD - USSR citizens of Polish nationality, related national operations, also against Kazakh SSR Germans, since 1939 many residents of the Poland's kresy wschodnie were forcibly settled in this region, and Kokchetav became the center of the Polish community in Kazakhstan.
Climate
Kokshetau lies in the extreme continental climate zone (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long, cold winters and hot summers. The average temperature in January is −15.3 °C (4.5 °F). In July the temperature averages 20.2 °C (68.4 °F). Yearly precipitation amounts to 313 mm (12.3 in).
Industry
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 most plants and factories in the city stopped their production for ever. At that moment the city had a number of grain mills and some dairy production. A gold mine operates north of the city.
Transport
Kokshetau has a renovated international airport. As of June 2016 it welcomed only domestic flights. The city is connected by rail to a variety of destinations. There is a tollway to Astana. The trip normally takes 3 hours.