Republic of Kazakhstan

My Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Менің Қазақстаным) is the current national anthem of Kazakhstan, adopted on January 7, 2006. It is based on a song written in 1956 with the same title, music by Shamshi Kaldayakov (Шәмші Қалдаяқов) and lyrics by Zhumeken Nazhimedenov (Жұмекен Нәжімеденов). This replaced Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan as the state anthem, which was used after independence. The original lyrics were modified by Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, before the decree was issued.
more information on My Kazakhstan (anthem)

Celcius: 16°
Fahrenheit: 61°

Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states combined, largely due to the country's vast natural resources and a recent history of political stability. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a sustainable economic growth; diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's competitiveness; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.