The People

About 50 per cent of the people are Kazakh, a Turkic-speaking people. Russians and Ukrainians make up most of the rest of the population. Kazakh is the official language, but Russian is widely spoken. Islam and Orthodox Christianity are the main religions.

Institutions of higher learning include the Kazakh Academy of Sciences, the Kazakh State University, and the Kazakh Polytech-nical Institute, all in Almaty. The Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan is also in Almaty.

Horseback riding is a popular pastime in Kazakhstan. Winter sports and mountain climbing are also popular, especially at Medeo, a sports complex high in the mountains near Almaty.