Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country, located in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It shares borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and has access to the Caspian Sea. Here are some key facts about Kazakhstan:
Geography & Nature
Size: 9th largest country in the world (~2.7 million km²)
Landscape: A mix of steppes, deserts, mountains, and lakes
Major Cities:
Astana (Nur-Sultan) – Capital
Almaty – Largest city and cultural hub
Shymkent – Third-largest city
Culture & People
Population: ~19 million
Ethnic groups: Mostly Kazakhs (~70%), Russians (~20%), and others
Languages:
Kazakh (official)
Russian (widely spoken and used in business)
Azerbaijan is a country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, in the South Caucasus region. It shares borders with Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the east.
Capital
Baku (largest city and economic hub)
Languages:
Official Language: Azerbaijani (Azeri)
Culture & History
Azerbaijan has a rich cultural heritage influenced by Persian, Turkic, and Russian traditions. It was part of the Persian Empire, later influenced by the Ottoman and Russian Empires, and was a Soviet republic before becoming independent. The country is known for its mugham music, carpet weaving, and the famous poet Nizami Ganjavi.
Tourism & Nature
Gobustan National Park (Ancient rock carvings)
Mud Volcanoes (Azerbaijan has the most in the world)
Sheki (a historic town known for its palace and silk industry)
Caspian Sea (world’s largest inland body of water)
Nagorno-Karabakh region (historically disputed area)