ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Geography of Kazakhstan

Okay kiddo, let's learn about the geography of Kazakhstan! Kazakhstan is a really big country in Central Asia. It's the ninth largest country in the world, which means that it's really, really, REALLY big! So big, that it covers an area bigger than all of Western Europe!

Kazakhstan is located in the middle of the Eurasian continent, so it's not close to any oceans or seas. However, it does have some pretty big rivers, like the Irtysh, the Ishim, and the Ural. These rivers are important because they provide water for the land, and make it possible for people to live and grow crops.

Now, the land in Kazakhstan is very diverse. There are mountains, deserts, grasslands, and even a few forests! The biggest mountain range in Kazakhstan is the Altai, which is located in the east of the country. The Altai Mountains have some really beautiful scenery, like valleys, rivers, and glaciers.

The largest desert in Kazakhstan is the Karakum Desert, which is located in the south. The Karakum is really hot and dry, and has very little vegetation. However, there are oases (a place in the desert where there is water) in the Karakum where people have been living for hundreds of years.

The grasslands in Kazakhstan are really important because they're used for grazing animals like sheep, horses, and cows. The grasslands cover a lot of the country and are called the steppe. There's also a big area in the north of Kazakhstan called the Siberian Steppe, which is really cold in the winter!

Finally, there are a few forests in Kazakhstan, mostly in the north and in mountainous areas. The forests are home to many animals, like bears, wolves, and lynx.

So there you have it, kiddo! Kazakhstan is a really big country with different landscapes, like mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests. It has big rivers and it's located in the middle of the Eurasian continent!