Landscape
   Kazakhstan's landscape is diverse in the extreme and you can experience virtually every climate zone here. In the south, south-west and east, Kazakhstan is framed by the TienShan, Tarbagatai and Altai mountains, a dark green and turquoise mosaic crowned with glittering snow all year round. To the west is the Caspian Sea, a treasure-trove of sturgeon and Kazakhstan's oil deposits. Most of the country is occupied by steppe, the sand-stone massifs of Karakum and the vast desert of Kyzylkum. The Sary-Arka steppes contain the unique Lake Balkhash which is half freshwater, half salt. In the north there are about 80 picturesque lakes, lost in the low-lying pine forests of Kokshetau. The endless steppe alternates with hills and moun-tain ranges. This region, known as the "land of seven rivers", is watered by the Syr-Darya, Ural, Ishim, Tobol, Irtysh, Ili and Chu rivers, now spreading out ex-pansively, now slinking through the sands like snakes. The highest point in Kaza-khstan - Khan-Tengri Peak - is 7,010 metres above sea level, while the lowest - the Karagie depression east of the Caspian Sea - is 1.32 metres below.
    Climate
   Kazakhstan's climate is extreme continental. The Altai and Tien-Shan mountains bring down the temperatures and increase humidity. Tem-peratures range between 18°C and -20 C in the north, 30°C and -1 C in the south. The weather in July is almost as hot as in Sri Lanka, while in January it is comparable to northern Norway The best times to visit are late spring, summer and early autumn.