Kazakhstan has several major land features. It consists mainly of flatland and desert, and has low or irregular rainfall; there is a high mountain belt in the southeast (2,100 miles long). It also is a region of drainage: The Syr Darya, the Ili, the Chu, and other rivers drain into the Aral Sea and Lake Balkash.
Although Kazakhstan is largely arid, its steppes work well to accommodate both livestock and grain production. Wheat, cotton, sugar beets, and tobacco are the main crops. The raising of cattle and sheep is also important, and Kazakhstan produces much wool and meat. In addition, there are rich fishing grounds, famous for their caviar-producing sturgeon in the Northern part of the Caspian Sea. All this works well for the country's economy. Other large natural resources that come out of Kazakhstan are: natural gas, iron ore, manganese, chrome, lead, zinc, silver, copper, nickel, titanium, bauxite, and gold. Also the Irtysh River hydroelectric stations are the country's main source of power.
Out of all the nations that came out of the U.S.S.R. Kazakhstan is one of the richest, both economically and