Kazakhstan

From Alterealitiky

KAZAKHSTAN - A nation of central Asia, located mainly in the great steppe. Population (2095): 840,000, chiefly Turkic nomads. The nation was established officially during the early 2050s, after a period of unofficial Communist rule (2001-2053). Prior to this point, the Kazakh and Kyrgyz (see Kyrgyzstan) coexisted in a great Khanate that stretched over much of central Asia, including parts of today's Russia. The capital is Astana (pop. 2,100), while the largest city is called Alma U-De (pop. 25,500).

Kazakhstan borders some of the Altai mountains in the far east and some of the Karakorum range in the far southeast, however the bulk of the nation is made up of flat, treeless plains, many of them near desert in climate. Winters are extremely cold, while summers can be extremely balmy during the day but usually cool down considerably at night. The population is primarily rural (87%), and most make a living from sheep and horse rearing (77%). Very few are educated or even literate. The bulk of people are ethnic Kazakhs (90%), a branch of the Kyrgyz people, a Turkic ethnic group. Their language is extremely similar to Turkish and other central Asian languages, and only remotely similar to Mongolian and other Siberian tongues.

Most Kazakhs follow the ancient pagan religion of Tengrism, which is henotheistic and sky-worshipping, and includes shamanic rituals. The material culture is poor and underdeveloped, and only around 500 households (around 1 out of 500) have access to electricity in the entire nation. The life expectancy at birth is only 34 years for men and 33 for womyn. Most of Kazakh culture is based around the herding of horses, whose milk and meat are an important part of the diet, whose hair and skin is used for building the yurta or portable dwellings, and whose usefulness in war and contests have inspired many festivals and cultural folklore.