Kazakh Steppe

TheKazakh Steppe(Kazakh:Қазақ даласы,romanized:Qazaq dalasy[qɑˈzɑqdɑɫɑˈsə]), also known as theGreat SteppeorGreatDala(Kazakh:Ұлы дала,romanized:Ūly dala[ʊˈɫɤdɑˈɫɑ]), is a vast region of opengrasslandinCentral Asia, covering areas in northernKazakhstanand adjacent areas ofRussia. It lies east of thePontic–Caspian steppeand west of theEmin Valley steppe, with which it forms the central and western part of theEurasian steppe. The Kazakh Steppe is anecoregionof thetemperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublandsbiomein thePalearctic realm. Before the mid-19th century, it was called the Kirghiz steppe, 'Kirghiz' being an old Russian word for the Kazakhs.
Thesteppeextends more than 2,200 km (1,400 mi) from the east of theCaspian Depressionand north of theAral Sea, all the way to theAltai Mountains. It is the largest dry steppe region on earth, covering approximately 804,450 km(310,600 sq mi).The Kazakh Steppe lies at the southern end of theUral Mountains, the traditional dividing line betweenEuropeandAsia. Much of the steppe is considered to be semi-desert, grading into desert as one goes further south.TheTuran Lowlandlies in  the southwestern part of the steppe, but elevation increases as one travels east or to the northern parts of the steppe, with a few exceptions.
ThePontic Steppelies to the west and northwest. To the north and northeast of the Kazakh Steppe lies theKazakh forest steppe, an ecoregion of pine groves interspersed with grasslands that forms a transition between the Kazakh steppe and the forests of Siberia. To the south lies theKazakh semi-desertand theKazakh uplandecoregions. TheKokshetau Massifin north-central Kazakhstan harbors an enclave of the Kazakh upland, distinct from the Kazakh steppe which surrounds it at lower elevations.
The region has asemi-arid,continentalclimate. Most of the area falls under thecool semi-arid(BSk) classification under theKöppen climate classificationsystem, although the moister north is classed ashumid continental(Dfa/Dfb). The steppe receives between 200 and 400 millimetres (8 and 16 in) ofprecipitationin an average year, with more falling in the northern areas. Average maximum temperatures range from 20 to 26 °C (68.0 to 78.8 °F) in July, and from −12 to −18 °C (10.4 to −0.4 °F) in January. Very high winds sweep across the plains at times.
Because of low rainfall, the steppe has few trees, and consists of mostlygrasslandsand large, sandy areas.  Typical vegetation includes feathergrass (Stipa), wormwood (Artemisia (genus)), and fescue (Festuca).In parts of the steppe,woody plant encroachmentis observed.
Animals that can be found in the steppes of Kazakhstan include theSaiga antelope,Siberian roe deer,wolves,foxes,badgers,Mongolian gerbils,andsteppe tortoises.
The western part of the Kazakh Steppe is very sparsely populated, with between two and three people per 1 km(0.39 sq mi). As one heads east across the plains, the population density increases to between four and seven people per 1 km(0.39 sq mi).Kazakhpeople make up the majority of the people living in the area. Russia leases approximately 7,360 km(2,840 sq mi) in the southern region of the steppe for the world's oldestspace launch facility,Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The movieTulpanwas shot and set in the Kazakh Steppe.