Mangghystau Province

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Mangghystau is a province of Kazakhstan. Its capital is Aqtau (a seaport), which has a population of 143,400 (1999 census); the entire Mangghystau province has a population of 316,847.

The province is located in the southwest of the country, and includes Mangyshlak Peninsula. It has much of Kazakhstan's Caspian Shore. It also borders neighboring countries Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Mangghystau also borders two other Kazak provinces: Aqtöbe Province and Atyrau Province. The area of the province is 165,600 square kilometers. Engineers discovered petroleum in the area in the days of the Soviet Union, drilling commenced, and much of the area was built up around the industry. Mangghystau, especially, Aqtau, was a vacation area for many members of the Communist Party elite. A nuclear power plant and nuclear missile storage site existed in Aqtau in the Soviet-era, but have since been shut down and moved to Russia, respectively.

Provinces of Kazakhstan
Provinces: Almaty | Aqmola | Aqtöbe | Atyrau | East Kazakhstan (Shyghys Qazaqstan) | Mangghystau | North Kazakhstan (Soltustik Qazaqstan) | Pavlodar | Qaraghandy | Qostanay | Qyzylorda | South Kazakhstan (Ongtüstik Qazaqstan) | West Kazakhstan (Batys Qazaqstan) | Zhambyl Metropolitan Cities: Almaty | Astana | Baikonur