South Kazakhstan Region is the southernmost
region of
Kazakhstan. Population: Its capital is
Shymkent, with 603,500 people. Other cities in South Kazakhstan include
Turkestan,
Sayram,
Kentau,
Arys, Shardara, Zhetisai, Saryagash, and
Lenger. This region and
Atyrau Region are Kazakhstan's two smallest regions; both are about 117,300 square kilometers in area. South Kazakhstan borders the neighboring country of
Uzbekistan (and is very near the Uzbekistan capital
Tashkent), as well as three other Kazakhstan regions:
Karaganda Region (to the north),
Kyzylorda Region (to the west), and
Jambyl Region (to the east). The
Syr Darya passes through the region, on its way to the
Aral Sea. Also, an
oil pipeline runs from
Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan to
Omsk,
Russia (where it connects with a larger,
Siberian pipeline) through South Kazakhstan.
Oil,
lead and
zinc are refined in Shymkent.