Kostanay Region, Administrative region in northern Kazakhstan.
Kostanay Region is an administrative area in northern Kazakhstan that extends across wide grasslands with flat plains and gentle hills. The Tobol River runs through the landscape from north to south, watering fields and small settlements along its banks.
The Soviet administration set up the area as a separate region in 1936, after nomadic groups had moved through the steppes before that. Following Kazakhstan's independence in 1991, the administrative structure largely remained and the area developed into an agricultural and industrial center.
The population speaks mostly Kazakh and Russian in daily life, which shows in bilingual street signs and public announcements. In local markets, vendors sell traditional Kazakh felt goods alongside Russian baked products, and small Orthodox chapels often stand near Muslim prayer spaces in villages.
Intercity buses connect the larger towns, while local minibuses reach smaller settlements and trains run several times daily toward Nur-Sultan and other regions. Travelers should carry some cash, as not all shops and fuel stations outside cities accept cards.
The Naurzum Nature Reserve hosts flamingos that stop at shallow salt lakes during breeding season, having traveled thousands of kilometers from the south. Near Arkalyk, archaeologists found remains of horse harnesses from the Bronze Age, pointing to early riding cultures in this area.
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