Qaraghandy

Industrial city and capital of the Qaraghandy oblast (region) in central-eastern Kazakhstan; population (1996) 1,339,900. The city lies at the centre of an area rich in minerals, where coal, copper, tungsten, and manganese are mined. Iron and steel mills are located here, and food processing also takes place. Qaraghandy is joined by canal with the Irtysh River and lies on the railway line linking Almaty with the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Qaraghandy developed as a copper-mining community from the mid-16th century onwards. It was formally established as a mining settlement in 1857, became a town in 1932, and was made regional capital in 1936. The modern city consists of a number of separate built-up areas, all some distance from one another.

Qaraghandy

Oblast (region) in central Kazakhstan; area 85,400 sq km/33,000 sq mi; population (1996) 1,350,000. The capital is Qaraghandy. Industries include coalmining, engineering, and the production of iron, steel, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, and foodstuffs. Sheep and goats are raised, and wheat is grown.

The region is mostly desert or semi-desert. There are large deposits of coal (Qaraghandy basin), copper, iron ore, and manganese. Cities include Temirtau and Abay. Industries include iron and steel production (at Temirtau), coalmining, engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, and the production of chemicals and foodstuffs. Sheep and goats are raised, and wheat cultivation was expanded during Khrushchev's ‘Virgin Land Campaign’ of the 1950s and 1960s.