The steppes of Eastern Kazakhstan in Altyn Emeil National Park.

Setting

The steppe extends more than 2,200 km from the area east of the Caspian Depression and north of the Aral Sea, all the way to the Altai Mountains. It is the largest dry steppe region on earth, covering approximately 804,500 square kilometers. The Kazakh Steppe lies at the southern end of the Ural Mountains, the traditional dividing line between Europe and Asia. Much of the steppe is considered to be either semi-desert or desert. The Turan Lowland lies in the southwestern part of the steppe, but elevation increases as one travels east or to the northern parts of the steppe, with a few exceptions.

The Pontic Steppe lies to the west and northwest. To the north and northeast of the Kazakh Steppe lies the Kazakh forest steppe, an ecoregion of pine groves interspersed with grasslands that forms a transition between the Kazakh steppe and the forests of Siberia. To the south lies the Kazakh semi-desert and the Kazakh upland ecoregions. The Kokchetav Massif in north-central Kazakhstan harbors an enclave of the Kazakh upland, distinct from the Kazakh steppe which surrounds it at lower elevations.

Climate

The region receives from 200mm to 400mm of rainfall in an average year, with more rain falling in the northern areas of the steppe. Average temperatures in July range from 20C to 26C, and -12C to -18C in January. The climate can be compared to that of the Canadian Prairies. Very high winds sweep across the plains at times.

Flora

Because of few rainfall, the steppe has few trees, and consists of mostly grasslands and large, sandy areas.

Fauna

Animals that can be found in the steppes of Kazakhstan include the Saiga Antelope, Siberian Roe Deer, wolves, foxes and badgers.

People

The western part of the Kazakh Steppe is very sparsely populated, with between two and three people per square kilometer. As one heads east across the plains, the population density increases to between four and seven people per square kilometer. Kazakh people make up the majority of the people living in the area. Russia leases approximately 7,360 square kilometers in the southern region of the steppe for the world's oldest space launch facility, Baikonur Cosmodrome.

See also

• Saryarqa ? Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan
• West Siberian Plain

External links

• CIA, The World Factbook, 2004
• Kazakh steppe (National Geographic)
• Kazakh steppe (World Wildlife Fund)
• Saudi Aramco World, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200303/the.soul.of.kazakhstan.htm
• surfbirds.com, http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/trips/kazak-jj-0204.html
• Map of the Kazakh Steppe,

de:Kasachensteppe lt:Kazachijos step? nn:Den kasakhstanske steppa pl:Step Kazachski