1. Kazaksthstan is the ninth biggest country in the world, about the size of Western Europe.
2. It borders Russia to the north, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kirgyzstan in the south, and China in the east.
3. Southeast Kazakhstan lies along the northern edge of the Tian Shan.
4. Kazakhstan's eastern border, shared with China, is a series of mountain ranges
5. The north of the country is flat, mostly treeless steppes.
6. Lake Balkhash in the central east is the fourth-largest lake in Asia. Is there a sea that is half salt and half fresh water.