Aktobe is a
region of
Kazakhstan. The Aktobe regional capital is the city of
Aktobe, with a population of more than 340,000. The region itself has a population 678,900. The area of the region is 300,600 square kilometers, making it the second largest region of Kazakhstan, after
Karaganda Region. Aktobe Region borders
Russia to the north and
Uzbekistan to the south, and also borders six other Kazakh regions: the
Atyrau Region to the west, the
Mangystau Region to the south-west, the
Karaganda Region to the east, the
Kostanay Region to the north-east, the
Kyzylorda Region to the south-east, and the
West Kazakhstan Region to the north-west. The
Ilek River, a tributary of the
Ural River, flows through the region. The name "Aktobe" comes from
Kazakh "Ақ" (white) and "төбе" (hill); supposedly, Aktobe's initial settlers were able to see white mountains far to the north.