10 Unexpected Facts About Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country and one of the most geographically diverse places on Earth, yet it remains surprisingly unknown to many. Stretching from Europe to Asia, the country is shaped by vast steppes, dramatic mountains, modern cities, and a rich nomadic heritage.

From unexpected records and natural wonders to cultural traditions and historical milestones, Kazakhstan holds far more surprises than its size alone suggests. In this article, we explore ten fascinating facts that reveal why this Central Asian nation is much more interesting than you might think.

1 Kazakhstan is home to the world’s tallest chimney…

The tallest chimney ever built, completed in 1987 in Kazakhstan (then part of the Soviet Union), rises higher than the roofline of the former World Trade Center. The chimney belongs to the Ekibastuz GRES-2 coal-fired power plant—and might just be a chimney sweep’s worst nightmare. [source]

2 A lake with both fresh and salt water…

Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan is divided by a narrow strait into two distinct parts. What makes it truly remarkable is that the western part contains fresh water, while the eastern side of the very same lake is saltwater. [source]

3 Two villages were struck by a mysterious sleeping sickness…

Residents of two villages in northern Kazakhstan were affected by a bizarre sleeping sickness that puzzled researchers beginning in March 2013. People would suddenly fall asleep and remain unconscious for days, sometimes for as long as six days at a time.

Eventually, the Kazakh government believed it had found the cause: high levels of carbon monoxide leaking from a nearby abandoned uranium mine. [source]

4 Kazakhstan is landlocked — yet still has a navy…

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, meaning it does not border any of the world’s oceans. Despite this, the country still operates a naval force, which is based in the Caspian Sea. [source]

5 The world’s first spacecraft to reach another planet was launched from Kazakhstan…

The first spacecraft ever to reach another planet was launched from Kazakhstan, a location that remains a major space launch site to this day, especially for Russia. The spacecraft, Venera 3, was launched by the Soviet Union on November 16, 1965, with the mission of reaching Venus.

On March 1, 1966, Venera 3 crashed onto the surface of Venus, officially making it the first human-made object to reach another planet. [source]

6 Marijuana plants began growing wild in the middle of the capital…

Cannabis and marijuana are illegal to sell, use, or cultivate in Kazakhstan. Despite this, the government was left completely baffled when thousands of wild marijuana plants suddenly began growing around the country—right in the capital city of Nur-Sultan.

No one knows for certain who planted them, and speculation has ranged from private individuals to even the government itself, allegedly as a way to lure users into prison as a deterrent. [source]

7 The film Borat seriously angered the country’s government…

The Kazakh government responded to the 2006 film Borat by placing a four-page advertisement in the New York–based The New York Times, aiming to explain and defend Kazakh culture to an international audience.

In true Borat fashion, the character later responded with a “press release” made up entirely of random Cyrillic characters, adding yet another layer to the controversy. [source]

8 International Women’s Day is a public holiday in Kazakhstan…

International Women’s Day is officially recognized as a public holiday in the country. This may come as a surprise to some, especially given the country’s Soviet past—but perhaps it’s about time more countries followed its example. [source]

9 An island of plague, anthrax, and smallpox…

There is an island called Vozrozhdeniya Island in the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan that was once used as a biological weapons testing site and is now contaminated with anthrax, smallpox, plague, and other dangerous pathogens. Once inhabited, the island is completely abandoned today.

In short, this is not exactly a luxury island you’d want to add to your list of family vacation destinations. [source]

10 One of the few countries with a single-digit calling code…

Only a handful of countries use single-digit international calling codes: #7 (shared by Russia and Kazakhstan) and #1 (used by the United States and Canada). All other countries have two- or three-digit country codes. [source]