II. Read and translate the text: Political Structure, Geography and Economy

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a sovereign state in the centre of the Eurasian continent. The official language is Kazakh. The Russian language is officially used on equal grounds along with Kazakh. The main law of the state is the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It was adopted in 1995. According to the Constitution Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of government. It proclaims itself as a democratic, secular, legal and social state. The highest representative body that performs legislative functions is the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Parliament consists of two chambers: the Senate and the Mazhilis. The national currency is tenge.

The population of Kazakhstan is about 15,400,000: 57% urban, 43% rural. The most numerous nations are Kazakh, Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, German, Tatar, Uigur.

The territory of the country stretches 1,600 km from north to south and 2,800 km from west to east. The total area is 2.7 mln. square km. Kazakhstan borders on Russia to the north, China to the east, Kyrgistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the south, and the Caspian sea to the west. The landscape of Kazakhstan is diverse. There are vast lowlands and highest mountains covered with everlasting snows and glaciers (the Tyan-Shan, the Alatau, the Altay). Steppes, deserts and semi-deserts predominate on the largest part of Kazakhstan.

There are a lot of full rivers in the Republic. The main rivers are the Irtish, the Ural, the Ishim, the Sirdarya, the Tobol. There are 48,000 large and small lakes. The largest of them are the Balkhash, the Zaysan, the Alokol, the Tengiz.

There are some natural reservations: the Barsakelmes, Aksu-Dzhabagly, Almatinsky, etc., the Bayanaul national natural park.

On the territory of the Republic there are 155 species of mammals, 480 species of birds, 150 of fish, 250 of plants.

The long distance to the oceans and the large territory of the country influence greatly the climatic conditions. The climate is sharply continental and it varies widely throughout the country.

The economic structure of the country is based on its vast deposits of natural resources such as ore, oil, natural gas. Eastern Kazakhstan is rich in polymetal ores containing lead, zinc, copper, gold, silver. Central Kazakhstan is famous for hard coal deposits. About 30% of the Republic’s hard coal stocks are concentrated here. Considerable resources of oil and natural gas, chromate and copper are in Western Kazakhstan. According to the oil and gas reserves Kazakhstan can be classified as one of the largest oil-extracting countries of the world. The main branches of industry are ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, production of heavy machinery, industrial equipment, chemicals, textiles, processed foods, timber cutting.

In addition Kazakhstan is a major producer and exporter of agricultural products, primarily grain, wool and meat. Northern Kazakhstan is the granary of the country. About three quarters of agricultural land are used for grain production. Southern Kazakhstan is the main centre of irrigated viticulture with well-developed cotton, sugar beet and rice growing.

Kazakhstan is one of the richest countries of the world concerning its natural and manpower resources. The economy is oriented to the creation of free market in the democratic society. The private sector is experiencing an unbelievable growth making the basis for the future economic stability of the state.