Shalkar

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Shalkar
Шалқар
Town
Shalkar
Location in Aktobe Province, Kazakhstan
Coordinates: 47°50′N 59°36′E / 47.833°N 59.600°E / 47.833; 59.600Coordinates: 47°50′N 59°36′E / 47.833°N 59.600°E / 47.833; 59.600
Country Kazakhstan
Province Aktobe Province
District Shalkar District
Settlement 1870
Population (2009)[1]
  Total 26,574
Time zone Yekaterinburg Time (UTC+5)

Shalkar (Kazakh: Шалқар) is a town and the administrative center of Shalkar District in Aktobe Province of western Kazakhstan.[2] The town is located north of the Ülken Borsyk Desert, close to Lake Shalkar. Population: 26,574 (2009 Census results);[1] 26,329 (1999 Census results).[1]

History

Shalkar (Chelkar) was founded in 1870 as a settlement. At the time, Chelkar was a part of Irgizsky Uyezd of Turgay Oblast and was connected to Irgiz by a road. In the 1900s, the railroad connecting Orenburg and Tashkent was built. Chelkar became an important railway station. Between 1905 and 1907 the station building, the locomotive depot, as well as other facilities including a school and a hospital, were built. In 1918, Chelkar was an area of battles during the Russian Civil War.[3]

In 1920, Turgay Oblast was transformed to Turgay Governorate, and in 1921, it was abolished and included into Orenburg-Turgay Governorate. On May 26, 1921 Irgizsky District, a successor of Irgizsky Uyezd, was transferred to Aktyubinsk Governorate of Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. On July 5, 1922 the district was abolished, and Shalkar became the administrative center of Chelkarsky Uyezd. In 1925, the republic was renamed Kazak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. On January 17, 1928 the governorate was abolished, and Chelkar was transferred to Aktyubinsk Okrug. The uyezds were abolished as well, and Chelkarsky Raion (District) was established.[4]

In 1928, Shalkar was granted a town status. On December 17, 1930 the okrug was abolished, and the districts became directly subordinate to the republic. In 1932, Aktobe Province was established, and in 1936, the republic was transformed into Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. In the 1930s Shalkar became a place for political exile, in particular, from Saint Petersburg.[3]

Economy

Industry

Shalkar is mostly serving the railway; there is a carriage repair plant. There are also food industry enterprises.[5]

Transportation

Shalkar is a railway station on the Trans-Aral Railway, which connects Orenburg and Tashkent. It is also connected to Irgiz by a road. This connection provides an access to the E38 highway between Aktobe and Shymkent.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Население Республики Казахстан" (in Russian). Департамент социальной и демографической статистики. Retrieved 8 December 2013. 
  2. "Шалкарский район" (in Russian). Департамент статистики Актюбинской области. Retrieved 1 June 2012. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Железняк, Сергей (June 28, 2007). "С визитом к царю из Шалкарской пустыни" (in Russian). Диапазон. Retrieved 1 June 2012. 
  4. Каратаев, Абат (February 2, 2012). "От волостей к районам" (in Russian). Актюбинский вестник. Retrieved 1 June 2012. 
  5. "L-40-VI. Челкар" (in Russian). narod.ru. Retrieved 1 June 2012. 
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