Zhanaozen, Oil industry city in Mangystau Region, Kazakhstan

Zhanaozen is a city of regional significance in Mangystau Region, 150 km southeast of Aktau, on the plain at the southwestern foot of the Mangystau plateau. A wide worn asphalt road leads to a roundabout with two pale gray planters of green shrubs, beyond which the road runs toward an overpass and rows of trees and streetlights. The city grew from the Uzen oil field and is home to Ozenmunaigas and the Kazakh gas processing plant.

The city emerged following the discovery of the Uzen oil field in 1964 and gained official status in 1973. This development marked the beginning of industrial growth in a previously sparsely populated desert region.

The city's name means "new river" in Kazakh, and it was called Novy Uzen until 1993. Cultural life includes the Munayshy culture house, the Zhalyn cinema, a city museum, and the Abish-Kozha mosque, opened in 2016. The population is 98.67 percent Kazakh.

The city is accessible through a railway terminal that provides connections to other regions for transportation purposes. Within the city, minibus taxis and private vehicles serve as the main transport options for visitors and residents.

The city experiences extreme temperature swings between scorching summers and cold winters in its desert setting. These sharp seasonal shifts shape daily life and living conditions throughout the year in this remote industrial location.