Balkhash (city)

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Balkhash
Балқаш
Centre of the city.
Balkhash
Location in Kazakhstan
Coordinates: 46°50′53″N 74°59′42″E / 46.84806°N 74.99500°E / 46.84806; 74.99500Coordinates: 46°50′53″N 74°59′42″E / 46.84806°N 74.99500°E / 46.84806; 74.99500
Country Kazakhstan
Province Karagandy Province
Founded 1931
Incorporated (city) 1937
Government
 • Akim (mayor) Nurlan Erikbaevich Aubakirov (since 29 May 2012)
Elevation 440 m (1,440 ft)
Population (2009)
 • City 68,833
 • Urban 77,662
Postal code 100300 - 100316
Area code(s) +7 71036
Website http://www.balkhash.kz
Southern view of the city Balkhash.

Balkhash (Kazakh: Балқаш, Balqaş; Russian: Балхаш, Balkhash) is a city in Kazakhstan, located on the northern shore of the Lake Balkhash, on the Bay Bertys, and in south of Kazakh Uplands. Population of the city: 68,833 (2009 Census results);[1] 65,431 (1999 Census results).[1]

Balkhash was founded in 1937 as an industrial city centred on the mining and smelting of copper, and presently copper is still exploited there. The city lies approximately 500 km west of the Chinese border on the north side of the lake at an altitude of 440 m.

The history of the city is closely connected with mining of deposits of copper and development of a smelting plant.

History

Main article: Balkhashtsvetmet

In 11 April 1937, a small worker`s settlement "Pribalhashstroy", designed in connection with the construction of a copper factory - BGMC, was transformed into the city of Balkhash by decision of the Central Executive Committee of the Kazakh SSR. In this way, the copper factory became city-forming factor.

In 9 November 1932, the first school was established in the city - school № 1. At school educated a few children of the builders of the city that time. Among these children was Maria Nicolaevna Guseva (Halova). This school became a matter of her life: firstly she was one of the first pupils. Later, she became a teacher. In 1935, a section for parachuting was opened. Its first director was Dyusembayev.

During the Great War for Homeland (term for the World War II in Russia), most of the male population was conscripted into the military service. Their places in the copper factory were replaced by women.

After the World War II, the Japanese war prisoners took part in the building of the city. In particular, they built buildings "Palace of Metallurgists" and the local airport.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, between 1992 and 1996, the city and its residents experienced an acute crisis (as well as all citizens of the former Soviet Union): there were power outages, a weak central heating and the copper factory worked intermittently. Some people cooked on fires in their yards; and in winter they heat their apartments with potbelly stoves. A positive contribution to the survival of this period was possession of summer cottages which served as an additional source of foodstuffs. In the second half of 1990`s, the situation got stabilised either in the city and country`s economy. A new neighborhood was built in the city, the so-called "Canadian cottages". All schools, medical facilities and the college started to function in the usual normal mode.

Administration and directorates

Since 29 May 2012, the post of mayor of the city of Balkhash takes up Nurlan Erikbaevich Aubakirov (date of birth 29.12.1975). The reason for the office assuming was the appointment of former Mayor Kadyrzhan Teylyanova as Chairman of the Committee of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.[2]

In the submission of Balkhash`s city administration are the following urban-type settlements: Sayak (3669 people), Gulshat and Chubar-Tubek (625 people). In May 1997, the city of Balkhash was administratively included in the Karagandy Province, due to changes in the boundaries of the latter. Prior to this, city was in Dzhezkazgan Province.

Population

The total population of the city with urban area is 75,453 people (2010). The national structure in 1 January 2010 was:[3]

In recent years, the number of Russian-speaking population dramatically reduced, and increased conversely the number of Kazakhs, who come mostly from rural areas resulting in increase of city's population after the substantial decline in 1990`s.

Climate

Winter in Balkhash. One of the central streets.

Balkhash has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with warm summers and very cold winters. Precipitation is low throughout the year. Snow is common, though light, in winter. The lowest temperature on record is −41.2 °C (−42.2 °F), recorded in December 1938, and the highest temperature is 40.9 °C (105.6 °F), recorded in July 2005.[4]

Climate data for Balkhash
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 3.9
(39)		 6.1
(43)		 24.5
(76.1)		 32.5
(90.5)		 34.4
(93.9)		 37.6
(99.7)		 40.9
(105.6)		 39.5
(103.1)		 37.6
(99.7)		 27.2
(81)		 17.4
(63.3)		 7.5
(45.5)		 40.9
(105.6)
Average high °C (°F) −8.7
(16.3)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 1.7
(35.1)		 14.3
(57.7)		 22.1
(71.8)		 27.9
(82.2)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.1
(82.6)		 21.7
(71.1)		 12.9
(55.2)		 3.0
(37.4)		 −5.2
(22.6)		 11.73
(53.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −13.3
(8.1)		 −12.1
(10.2)		 −3.6
(25.5)		 8.3
(46.9)		 16.4
(61.5)		 22.3
(72.1)		 24.2
(75.6)		 22.4
(72.3)		 15.6
(60.1)		 7.1
(44.8)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 −9.7
(14.5)		 6.32
(43.37)
Average low °C (°F) −17.6
(0.3)		 −16.8
(1.8)		 −8.2
(17.2)		 3.1
(37.6)		 10.7
(51.3)		 16.3
(61.3)		 18.5
(65.3)		 16.3
(61.3)		 9.3
(48.7)		 2.0
(35.6)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −13.7
(7.3)		 1.18
(34.12)
Record low °C (°F) −40.1
(−40.2)		 −40.2
(−40.4)		 −30.8
(−23.4)		 −14.2
(6.4)		 −5.5
(22.1)		 4.0
(39.2)		 6.9
(44.4)		 3.7
(38.7)		 −4.7
(23.5)		 −14.8
(5.4)		 −32.7
(−26.9)		 −41.2
(−42.2)		 −41.2
(−42.2)
Precipitation mm (inches) 13
(0.51)		 11
(0.43)		 12
(0.47)		 10
(0.39)		 15
(0.59)		 12
(0.47)		 14
(0.55)		 9
(0.35)		 4
(0.16)		 9
(0.35)		 16
(0.63)		 13
(0.51)		 138
(5.41)
Avg. rainy days 2 2 5 7 9 8 9 6 4 7 7 4 70
Avg. snowy days 14 11 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 12 50
% humidity 79 78 74 56 51 46 49 47 47 60 75 79 61.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 153 179 228 276 335 367 377 363 299 222 151 131 3,081
Source #1: pogoda.ru.net[4]
Source #2: NOAA (sun only, 1961-1990)[5]

Photo gallery

  • Centre of town.

  • Part of the town beach.

  • Metallurgical works.

  • Old metallurgical works.

  • Monument to victims of reprisals.

  • Spring. Beach. 22 March 2008.

  • Lake in the spring time. 22 March 2008.

Economy

Infrastructure

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balqash city.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Население Республики Казахстан" (in Russian). Департамент социальной и демографической статистики. Retrieved 8 December 2013. 
  2. ↑ BNEWS KZ (in russ.)
  3. ↑ Национальный состав населения Казахстана по переписи 2009
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "pogoda.ru.net Погода и Климат". Retrieved January 10, 2012. 
  5. ↑ "Balhash Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Balkhash.
Capital: Karagandy
Districts
Major cities
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