Traveling in Turgay - Turgay Region -
Turgay (Kazakh: Torgai) is a historical region in Kazakhstan. Until 1997, it was a separate administrative district, occupying the southern part of Kostanay Region and the western part of Akmola Region. It was abolished in 1997 during the administrative reform in Kazakhstan.
Historically, the Turgay district belonged to the entire Kostanay region, but now the term Turgay refers to three southern regions: Zangeldi Province, Amangeldi Province, and Arkalik County. The region's area is 75,800 square kilometers, comparable to the combined area of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Relief and Climate
The region's territory is characterized primarily by plains with plateaus in the west (such as Tekke, Kizbel, Zeelandia, and Kargali, with elevations ranging from 210 to 310 meters above sea level). The highest peak in the region is Sarikhti, at 397 meters. The climate is continental. Winters are long and harsh, while summers are hot and dry. Average January temperatures range from -16 to -17°C. Average July temperatures range from +22 to +25°C. Average annual precipitation ranges from 225 to 275 mm. The vegetation is steppe and semi-desert.
Population
The district's population is 83,905. Most residents speak Kazakh. As of January 1, 2010, Cossacks constitute the majority of the population – 71,147 people. Russians are second (7,313 people), Ukrainians third (1,464 people), and Tatars fourth (1,175 people). Belarusians are fifth with 555 people, Bashkirs sixth with 354 people, Moldovans seventh with 310 people, and Germans eighth with 222 people. The remaining nationalities make up 1,365 people.
History
Turgay District was formed in 1868. According to the 1897 census, the district had a population of 86,900. In this census, Cossacks constituted the overwhelming majority of the population, as 99.1% of the region's residents were Cossacks. The city of Torgai had a population of 896. The first Kazakh-Russian school opened in the region. The proposal was made by a local teacher, Ibrai Altinsarin. Two individuals from the Torgai region were important figures in the Kazakh national liberation struggle during World War I: Amangeldy Imanov from the Amangeldy velayat and A. Zangeldyna from the Zangeldy velayat.
In 1932, the district was abolished and incorporated into the Kostanai okrug, which was later renamed the Kostanai district.
In August 1990, the Torgai region was transformed into a district. On December 16, 1991, it became part of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1997, the Torgai district was abolished. The territory of the region was divided between Kostanay and Akmola regions.
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