Tselinograd region is located in the northern part of Kazakhstan. The regional administration is located in the city of Kokshetau. The region is agro-industrial, but the main specialization is agriculture and the processing of its products.
Developed mining industry (mining of uranium, gold ores), mechanical engineering, production of building materials. There is a chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Geography of the region
Akmola (Tselinograd) region is located between the Kokshetau heights (north of the region) and the Ulytau mountain range (southwest of the region). The rounded hills are formed by granites, the peaked hills 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 summer is hot, and winter is severe frost. By the number of sunny days, the area is comparable to the tropics. The snow stays on average for almost six months. Temperature fluctuations, both annual and daily, are quite significant.
It has three geographically contrasting parts: southern, middle andnorth.
The northern part has a flat terrain. The soil, especially near the Irtysh, is sandy. Often there are s alt marshes and, accordingly, s alt lakes, in particular Lake Dengiz (Tengiz).
The middle part is indented with low mountains. The Ishim, Nura and Sara-Su rivers flow. The region is hardly suitable for human habitation, although in some places it is still possible. Deposits of gold, copper, coal are concentrated here.
The southern part of the region is a waterless desert steppe. Its borders stretch from the source of the Sary-Su River to the Chu River. This part is called Bed-nak-dola, which means "Hungry Steppe".
The neighbors of the region are: from the east - Pavlodar region, from the west - Kostanay, in the north - North Kazakhstan, in the south - Karaganda.
The region covers an area of 146.2 thousand square meters. km.
History of the Tselinograd region
Tselinograd region has a rich history, during which it has undergone repeated changes, both territorial and in name.
For the first time, the region was mentioned in 1868 by the “Temporary regulation on the 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). The region included the counties: Akmola, Petropavlovsk, Atbasar, Omsk and Kokchetav.
In 1928, the Akmola region was transformed into the Akmola district, but two years later it was liquidated due to the new administrativeterritorial division.
In October 1939, the Akmola region was restored again. The city of Akmolinsk became its center. Administratively, the region consisted of fifteen districts and existed until 1960. On December 26, 1960, the region was again abolished, and its capital Akmolinsk received the status of the center of the Virgin Territory. But three months later, Akmolinsk was named Tselinograd (in honor of the uplift of virgin lands), and on April 24, the region was re-formed, 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 Akmola, and the region - Akmola. The former Tselinograd region, whose districts were changed by the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan of April 8, 1999, moved its capital from the city of Astana (formerly Akmolinsk) to the city of Kokshetau.
Regional Executive Power
Akimat is a regional executive body of the republic. The head of the akimat (akim) is appointed by the president of the republic.
Akimat of the Tselinograd region is represented by eleven departments in various spheres of the economy and life of the region and two state institutions (the Department of Tourism and the Department of Passenger Transport and Highways).
Akimat departments plan and use the regional budget, organize the economic activity of the region. Their competence includes issues of transport, land management,use of resources, compliance with law and order, etc.
Currently Sergey Vitalyevich Kulagin is the akim of the region. The head of the region was born and raised in the Akmola (Tselinograd) region. He was appointed to the position of regional akim twice: in September 1998 and in May 2014.
Shortandinsky district
As a result of the latest transformations in 1939, the Tselinograd Region grew territorially: the Shortandinsky District became its new administrative entity.
29,362 people live in the district. Population density - 6.2 people / sq. km. 37% of Russians, 31.7% of Kazakhs, 8.3% of Ukrainians, 7% of Germans live in the Shortandynsky district. Other nationalities are represented by 16 percent. The administrative center of the district is located in the city of Shortandy.
Occupied area is 4,700 square kilometers.
Arshaly region
Vishnevsky district of the Tselinograd region - that was the name of today's Arshalynsky district until 1997.
The district covers an area of 5,800 square kilometers and is home to 27,081 people. The population density is 4.7 persons/sq. km.
In addition to Kazakhs (37.3%), Russians (43.4%), Ukrainians (5.7%), Germans (5.5%), Belarusians, Tatars (less than 2%) live in the district, Poles, Moldovans, Ingush, Chechens, Bashkirs (less than 1%).
Sandyktau region
This area has managed to "survive" several transformations along withAkmola region. It was founded in 1928, when the Akmola region was transformed into the Akmola district. Then, since 1936, it was called the Molotov region. 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 the historical name Sandyktau District was returned to it.
The area covers an area of 6,400 sq. km. 20,010 people live on its territory, the density is 3.1 people/sq. km. The district is mostly inhabited by Kazakhs (20.13%), Russians (56.67%) and Germans (6.62%).
Cities that were not on the map
Stepnogorsk (Tselinograd region - now Akmola) was founded in 1959, 199 km from Astana, but it appeared on the maps only in the second half of the 80s. The secrecy of the settlement was explained by the location of the "Tselinny 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" was engaged 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, the city's enterprises produce gold, uranium, molybdenum.
The city of Alekseevka in the Tselinograd region (now Akmola) was founded in 1965. ATwithin its limits is the Ak-Kul railway station. Of the industrial enterprises, there is an oil refinery and a plant for the production of building materials. The remaining enterprises are related to railway transport.
The city itself is more associated with the Ak-Kul railway station, as it has been considered a closed object since its inception. This was due to the alleged fall of a UFO and work to investigate the site of its fall.
Currently the city is called Akkol.
Interesting facts
The end of the 18th - the beginning of the 19th century was an extremely difficult period for the Kazakh khanates of the Younger and Middle Zhuz: constant raids from neighbors haunted the Kazakhs, 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, biotechnology, 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 there is a well-known State National Natural Park "Burabay", created in 2000. The park occupies 83.5 thousand hectares. There are 14 lakes on its territory. On one of them (Lake Borovoye) there is a resort of national importance. Around the lake are mountains with forests and,of course, the endless Kazakh steppes. For its beauty, the park was named "Kazakh Switzerland". Wild animals can be found in local forests: 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 - 182 thousand hectares. Its territory has many lakes, mountains, forests, steppes. In the lakes there are whitefish and ripus - valuable species of fish. Visitors are offered both hiking and horse trails, as well as the opportunity to stay in a traditional Kazakh dwelling.
In conclusion
Akmola (Tselinograd) region occupies an advantageous position: such developed regions of Russia as Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Tyumen, Omsk regions, as well as the Urals are located nearby.
Currently, old economic ties with Russian regions are being strengthened and new ones are being developed. There is an expansion of the market for goods and products produced in the region.
