Atyrau oblast

Geography

The oblast is located on the Caspian lowland, to the north and east of the Caspian Sea between the lower reaches of Volga in the northwest and the Ustyurt plateau in the southeast.
Atyrau oblast borders with Astrakhan oblast of Russia in the west, West Kazakhstan oblast in the north and northeast, Aktobe oblast in the east (there is an architectural monument “Alyp-Ana” on the border of Aktobe and Atyrau oblast), Mangystau and the Caspian Sea in the south.

Relief

The region is located between the ridges of the Northern Tien Shan in the south, Balkhash Lake in the northwest and the Ili River in the northeast; it borders China in the east.
The entire northern half is occupied by the plain of the southern Semirechye, or Balkhash (altitude 300-500 m), slightly inclined to the north, crossed by dry channels — bakanas, with massifs of ridge and loose sands (Sary-Yesikatrau, Taukum). The southern part is occupied by ridges up to 5000 m high: Ketmen, Zailiysky Alatau and the northern spurs of Kungei-Alatau. From the north, the ridges are bordered by foothills and narrow foothill plains. The entire southern part is an area of high seismicity.

Hydrography

The Caspian Sea in the part adjacent to the oblast has depths of less than 50 m. The coastline is little creeky; there are small sandbanks and coastal islands.

Climate

The climate is extremely continental and arid, with hot summers and moderately cold winters.

History

Guryev oblast was established on January 15, 1938. It includes Baksaisky, Dengizsky, Zhilokosinsky, Ispulsky, Makatsky and Mangistau districts.
In October 1939, Novobogatinsky district was formed.
In 1941, Fort-Shevchenko district was formed.
On May 11, 1944, Kzylkuginsky district was formed.
On October 30, 1957, Guryevsky district was formed. Novobogatinsky district was abolished.
On January 2, 1963, Ispulsky and Baksaysky districts were merged into Makhambetsky Industrial district.
On January 10, 1963, Balykshinsky Industrial district was formed. Makatsky and Zhilokosinsky districts were merged into the Emba Industrial District.
On November 3, 1963, the Balykshinsky Industrial district was abolished.
On October 30, 1964, Makhambetsky and Emba industrial districts were abolished, and Indersky and Emba districts were formed.
In January 1966, Makatsky and Uzensky districts were formed.
On April 25, 1966, Guryevsky district was renamed Balykshinsky district.
In February 1977, Novobogatinsky district was re-formed.
In March 1973, Mangystau and Uzen districts and Shevchenko and Fort-Shevchenko cities were transferred to new Mangyshlak oblast. Balykshinsky, Dengizsky, Kzylkuginsky, Makatsky, Indersky, Emba, Makhambetsky districts and Guryev city remained as part of Guryev oblast.
In 1988, Mangyshlak oblast was annexed to the Guryev oblast. Balykshinsky, Novobogatinsky and Makatsky districts were abolished.
In August 1990, Balykshinsky and Makatsky districts were restored, and Novobogatinsky district was restored under the name Isataisky district.
On November 4, 1990, Mangyshlak oblast was again separated from Guryev oblast.
In February 1992, Guryev oblast was renamed Atyrau, and Guryev city was renamed Atyrau.
In 1993, Emba district was renamed Zhylyoisky, and Dengizsky district was renamed Kurmangazinsky.
On May 21, 1995, Balykshinsky district was abolished.

Administrative division

Atyrau oblast is divided into 7 districts and 1 city of regional subordination:
1. Zhylyoisky district — Kulsary
2. Indersky district — Inderborsky
3. Isataisky district — Akkistau
4. Kzylkoginsky district — Miyaly
5. Kurmangazinsky district — Kurmangazy
6. Makatsky district — Makat
7. Makhambetsky district — Makhambet
13. Atyrau city

Total: 2 cities (Atyrau is a city of regional subordination, Kulsary is a city of district subordination), 4 villages (Inderborsky, Makat, Dossor, Zhana Karaton) and 64 rural districts.