General Information

North Kazakhstan region is located in the north of Kazakhstan, occupies the southern outskirt of West Siberian Plain and part of Kazakh hills (Sary-Arka).
Region's territory is equal to 98.04 thousand square km, which is 3,6 percent of the territory of the republic. Much of the region's territory is located on the southern outskirts of West Siberian Plain, where the level of the surface does not exceed 200 meters, and refers to ancient Neogene plateau, occupying large spaces between the valleys of rivers Tobol and Irtysh.
The administrative center is Petropavlovsk city, which is located on the right bank of Ishim River (left tributary of the Irtysh). Its population is over 200 thousand people. The administrative-territorial structure of the region consists of 5 cities, including 1 regional and 4 of district level, 13 rural areas.
The population of the region is 653.9 thousand people.
The territory of the region consists of many picturesque landscapes, mountain ranges and forests, wildlife sanctuaries and botanical relic pine forests, Shalkar lake and natural areas Imantau. The most interesting archaeological sites are located in floodplains of Ishim Chaglinka and Iman-Burluk rivers. For example, a unique historical monument of eneolit era, located in Botai area, as well as the archaeological site of the Iron Age - mound Ak Iriy. The region also has lakes known for their mineral salts, curative waters and mud. One of these unique bodies of water is Lake Maybalyk.
The location in Northern Kazakhstan in the depths of the large continent makes it a sharp continental climate, characterized by long cold winters with strong winds and snowstorms, short but hot summers.
The presence of different ecosystems determines the diversity of animal species. Here, there are about 160 species of mammals and 200 species of birds.
Economic stability of the region determines the production of grain, which is the main export commodity of the region.
The share of the total gross product of agriculture is more than 14%. In the structure of the economy of the share of the agricultural sector accounts for 31% of the gross regional product.

North Kazakhstan occupies 4 % of agricultural land of republic and produces ¼ of grain production,17 % of potato, 6,0 %– meet, 11% - milk and 3,8% - eggs. Sown areas of grain cereals are stable for last years and makes up 3,7 mln hectares. Gross production of grain in it’s first weight compiles 3124 000 t. in 2004 year (with it’s unfavourable climat conditions), 3970 000 t.- in 2005 year, 5197 000 t. – in 2006 year, 5678 000 t. – in 2007 year, 5018 000 t. in 2008 year.
An industrial sector employs more than 900 businesses and industries. The industry has 15 large enterprises, 49 medium, which produced 68% of industrial production of non-financial sector. The share of industry in regional gross regional product is 9-10%. The share of industry in the nationwide gross regional product - 0,8%.
The road network of general use in the North-Kazakhstan area is 9002,9 km, including: of republican value – 1468 km, of regional significance – 2432 km, of district level – 5102,9 km.
Almost all kinds of minerals are identified and studied in varying degree in the area, 286 deposits are explored. Among them are 34-metal, 2-non-metals, 217-building and raw materials for industry and 33 groundwater, 6 of which are mineral.
The region's territory is part of North-Kazakhstan uranium-ore, diamond and tin-rare-metal province. It found significant reserves of mineral raw materials that make up the balance of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Tin-65% zirconium-36, 6%, uranium-19%, 5% titanium, tungsten-1, 1%.
Very significant prospects for expanding the mineral resource base, particularly in the south-west region. Here there are a number of significant deposits and ore occurrences of gold, silver, technical and gem diamonds, tin, titanium, non-ferrous and rare metals, brown coals.