East Kazakhstan

Oblast (region) in the far northeast of Kazakhstan, bordering the People's Republic of China to the east and the Russian Federation to the north; area 97,300 sq km/37,568 sq mi; population (1996) 943,000. The main cities are Öskemen (capital), Leninogorsk, and Zyryanovsk. There are important mineral deposits, including uranium, and the chief industries are mineral extraction and processing and non-ferrous metallurgy (zinc, lead, titanium). Wheat is cultivated, and there is dairy and sheep farming.

Physical The western fringe of the Altai Mountains (highest peak Mt Belukha, 4,506 m/14,783 ft, on the Kazakh–Russian border) covers the north of the province; further south, most of Lake Zaysan is within the region's boundaries. The main river is the Irtysh.