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Coordinates: 49°59′N 82°37′E / 49.983°N 82.617°E / 49.983; 82.617
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{{Short description|Capital of East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Kamenogorsk|Kamennogorsk}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Oskemen
| name = Oskemen
| native_name = {{lang|kk|Өскемен}} {{kk icon}}<br/>{{lang|ru|Усть-Каменогорск}} {{ru icon}}
| native_name = {{native name|kk|Öskemen, Өскемен}}<br />{{native name|ru|Усть-Каменогорск}}
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Kazakhstan|City]]
| image_skyline = ust1.jpg
| image_skyline = <!-- images and maps -----------> {{multiple image
| image_flag = Oskemen flag.png
| border = infobox
| image_seal = Oskemen_seal.svg
| perrow = 1/2/2/2/2
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Kazakhstan
| total_width = 250
| image1 = Панорама города Усть-Каменогорск.jpg
| pushpin_label = Oskemen
| image2 = New Mosque Oskemen.jpg
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| image3 = DKM uka.jpg
| pushpin_mapsize = 280
| footer = From the top, View over Oskemen, New Mosque of Oskemen, Palace of Culture}}
| pushpin_map_caption =Location in Kazakhstan
| image_flag = Oskemen-remade.png
| subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| image_seal = Oskemen_seal.svg
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Kazakhstan|Region]]
| map_caption =
| subdivision_name = [[Kazakhstan]]
| pushpin_map = Kazakhstan
| subdivision_name1 = [[East Kazakhstan Region]]
| pushpin_label = Oskemen
| established_title = Founded
| pushpin_label_position = left
| established_date =1720
| pushpin_mapsize = 280
| established_title1 = Incorporated ([[city]])
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kazakhstan
| established_date1 = 1868
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| government_type =
| subdivision_name = {{KAZ}}
| leader_title = Akim <small>([[mayor]])</small>
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Kazakhstan|Region]]
| leader_name = Kuat Tumabayev
| subdivision_name1 = [[East Kazakhstan Region]]
| area_magnitude =
| established_title = Founded
| area_total_km2 = 540
| established_date = 1720
| area_land_km2 =
| established_title1 = Incorporated ([[city]])
| area_urban_km2 =
| established_date1 = 1868
| area_metro_km2 =
| government_type =
| population_as_of=2013
| leader_title = [[Akim]]
| population_footnotes =
| leader_name = Zhaksylyk Omar
| population_total = 321251
| area_magnitude =
| population_urban =
| area_total_km2 = 540
| population_metro =
| area_land_km2 =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| area_urban_km2 =
| timezone = [[Almaty Time|ALMT]]
| area_metro_km2 =
| utc_offset = +6
| population_as_of = 2023
| timezone_DST =
| population_footnotes =
| utc_offset_DST =
| population_total = 400142 {{increase}}
| coordinates = {{coord|49|59|N|82|37|E|region:KZ|display=inline}}
| population_urban =
| elevation_footnotes=
| population_metro =
| elevation_m = 283
| population_density_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = [[Postal code]]
| timezone =
| postal_code = F0*****<ref>[http://bizgid.kz/postal/vostochno-kazahstanskaya_oblast/gorod_ust-kamenogorsk/ Postal codes of East Kazakhstan region (Oskemen)]</ref>
| utc_offset = +5
| area_code = +7 7232
| timezone_DST =
| registration_plate = F, 16
| utc_offset_DST =
| website = {{URL|http://www.oskemen.kz}}
| coordinates = {{coord|49|59|N|82|37|E|region:KZ|display=inline}}
| footnotes =
| elevation_footnotes =
}}
| elevation_m = 283
'''Oskemen''' ({{lang-kk|Өскемен|translit=Óskemen}}) or '''Ust-Kamenogorsk''' ({{lang-ru|Усть-Каменого́рск}}) is the administrative center of [[East Kazakhstan Region]] of [[Kazakhstan]]. It is served by [[Oskemen Airport]]. Population: {{Kz-census2009|303,720|punct=;}} {{Kz-census1999|310,950|punct=.}}
| postal_code_type = [[Postal code]]
| postal_code = F0*****<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bizgid.kz/postal/vostochno-kazahstanskaya_oblast/gorod_ust-kamenogorsk/|title=Почтовые индексы УСТЬ-КАМЕНОГОРСК ГОРОД, Казахстан. Поиск индекса по адресу|website=bizgid.kz}}</ref>
| area_code = +7 7232
| registration_plate = F, 16
| website = {{URL|http://www.oskemen.kz}}
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}
'''Oskemen''' ({{lang-kk|Өскемен|translit=Öskemen}} {{IPA-kk|ʉ̯ɵskʲeˈmʲen|}} {{Pronunciation|Kk-oskemen.ogg|listen|(|help=no}}) or '''Ust-Kamenogorsk''' ({{lang-rus|Усть-Каменогорск|p=ˌʊsʲtʲ kəmʲɪnɐˈgorsk}}) is the largest city in the east of Kazakhstan and the administrative center of [[East Kazakhstan Region]] of [[Kazakhstan]].


==Name==
==Name==


The city has two official names.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oskemen.vko.gov.kz/ru/|title=oskemen.vko.gov.kz / ГлавнаяОпросы|author=|date=|website=oskemen.vko.gov.kz|accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref> In the Kazakh language, its name is Өскемен/''Óskemen'' and in the Russian language, its known as Усть-Каменогорск. Both names appear on the seal of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aboutkazakhstan.com/ust-kamenogorsk-city|title=Ust-Kamenogorsk city, Kazakhstan overview, history, photos|author=|date=|website=aboutkazakhstan.com|accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref>
The city has two official names.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oskemen.vko.gov.kz/ru/|title=oskemen.vko.gov.kz / ГлавнаяОпросы|website=oskemen.vko.gov.kz|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-date=28 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228131122/http://oskemen.vko.gov.kz/ru/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the Kazakh language, its name is Өскемен/''Oskemen'' and in the Russian language it is known as Усть-Каменогорск. Both names appear on the seal of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aboutkazakhstan.com/ust-kamenogorsk-city|title=Ust-Kamenogorsk city, Kazakhstan overview, history, photos|website=aboutkazakhstan.com|access-date=10 April 2018}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The city was founded in 1720 at the confluence of the [[Irtysh]] and [[Ulba River|Ulba]] rivers as a [[fort]] and [[trading post]] named ''Ust-Kamennaya''.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074531/Ust-Kamenogorsk Encyclopædia Britannica] on-line</ref> It was established according to the order of the Russian Emperor [[Peter the Great]], who sent a military expedition headed by major Ivan Vasilievich Likharev in the search of Yarkenda gold. Likharev’s expedition directed up the Irtysh river to [[Zaysan Lake]]. There, at the confluence of the Ulba and the Irtysh rivers the new fortress was laid – the Ust-Kamennaya Fortress. The Ust-Kamennaya Fortress appeared on the map of the Russian Empire, the very southern end of the Irtysh line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oskemen.kz/en/city2_2.htm |title=Информация о городе |publisher=www.oskemen.kz |date= |accessdate=January 25, 2011}}</ref> In 1868 the city became the capital of the [[Semipalatinsk Oblast, Russia|Semipalatinsk Oblast]]. It was the site of [[Georgy Malenkov]]'s 30-year internal [[exile]], during which he managed a local hydroelectric plant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862609,00.html |title=RUSSIA: The Quick & the Dead |work=[[TIME]] |date=July 22, 1957 |accessdate=August 1, 2010}}</ref>
The city was founded in 1720 at the confluence of the [[Irtysh]] and [[Ulba River|Ulba]] rivers as a [[fort]] and [[trading post]] named ''Ust-Kamennaya''.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074531/Ust-Kamenogorsk Encyclopædia Britannica] on-line</ref> It was established according to the order of the Russian Emperor [[Peter the Great]], who sent a military expedition headed by major Ivan Vasilievich Likharev in the search of Yarkenda gold. Likharev’s expedition directed up the Irtysh River to [[Zaysan Lake]]. There, at the confluence of the Ulba and the Irtysh rivers the new fortress was laid – the Ust-Kamennaya Fortress. The Ust-Kamennaya Fortress appeared on the map of the Russian Empire, the very southern end of the Irtysh line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oskemen.kz/en/city2_2.htm |title=Информация о городе |publisher=www.oskemen.kz |access-date=January 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923002222/http://www.oskemen.kz/en/city2_2.htm |archive-date=September 23, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1868 the city became the capital of the [[Semipalatinsk Oblast, Russia|Semipalatinsk Oblast]]. It was the site of [[Georgy Malenkov]]'s 30-year internal [[exile]], during which he managed a local hydroelectric plant.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862609,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101011446/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862609,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 1, 2011 |title=RUSSIA: The Quick & the Dead |magazine=[[TIME]] |date=July 22, 1957 |access-date=August 1, 2010}}</ref>


The city developed into a major [[mining]] and [[metallurgy|metallurgical]] center during the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] period. Mining of [[non-ferrous metals]], especially [[uranium]], [[beryllium]], [[tantalum]], [[copper]], [[lead]], [[silver]] and [[zinc]] remain important. It is a center for the construction industry producing manufactured housing and [[ferroconcrete]] articles. The post-war industrial history of the city is very closely intertwined with the [[Soviet nuclear bomb project]], and the city was therefore kept closed to outsiders. One of the main industrial enterprises, the [[Ulba Metal Works]] (UMW) which produced and still produces uranium products, was kept entirely secret despite it employing thousands of workers. An explosion at the UMW's beryllium production line in 1990 led to the diffusion of a highly toxic beryllium-containing "cloud" over the city. The health effects of this incident are not entirely known, partly because the incident was kept secret by the Soviet authorities. Kazakhs who have visited the city state it is highly polluted which has led to alarmingly high cancer rates ({{As of|2014|lc=y}}).
One of the main industrial enterprises, the [[Ulba Metal Works]] (UMW) which produced and still produces uranium products, was kept entirely secret despite it employing thousands of workers. An explosion at the UMW's [[beryllium]] production line in 1990 led to the diffusion of a highly toxic beryllium-containing "cloud" over the city. The health effects of this incident are not entirely known, partly because the incident was kept secret by the Soviet authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rich |first=Vera |date=1990 |title='Years of neglect' led to beryllium blast |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12817430-700-years-of-neglect-led-to-beryllium-blast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910010910/https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12817430-700-years-of-neglect-led-to-beryllium-blast/ |archive-date=2021-09-10 |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, the Ulba Metallurgical Plant was inaugurated by the [[International Atomic Energy Agency|International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)]] as the home of the [[Low-enriched uranium|Low Enriched Uranium (LEU)]] bank - which serves as a supply mechanism of last resort for IAEA member states.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-17 |title=IAEA LEU Bank Becomes Operational with Delivery of Low Enriched Uranium |url=https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-leu-bank-becomes-operational-with-delivery-of-low-enriched-uranium |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.iaea.org |language=en}}</ref> The LEU bank is a physical stock of 90 metric tons of LEU hexaflouride, enough uranium to power a large city for three years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IAEA LEU Storage Facility to open in Kazakhstan in mid-August: Minister |url=https://akipress.com/news:592444/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=akipress.com}}</ref> The facility was wholly funded by IAEA member states and other contributions for a total of $150 million. This is expected to cover costs for 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IAEA buys uranium for LEU Bank : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-buys-uranium-for-LEU-Bank |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=world-nuclear-news.org}}</ref> Responsibility for safety, security, and safeguarding falls under the responsibilities of local authorities in Osmeken.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-13 |title=IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank |url=https://www.iaea.org/topics/iaea-low-enriched-uranium-bank |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.iaea.org |language=en}}</ref>


==Economy==
==Economy==
The city developed into a major [[mining]] and [[metallurgy|metallurgical]] center during the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] period. Processing of [[non-ferrous metals]], especially [[uranium]], [[beryllium]], [[tantalum]], [[copper]], [[lead]], [[silver]] and [[zinc]] remain important.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caravanistan.com/kazakhstan/north/oskemen/|title=Oskemen Travel Guide|website=Caravanistan|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> It is a center for the construction industry producing manufactured housing and [[ferroconcrete]] articles. The post-war industrial history of the city is very closely intertwined with the [[Soviet nuclear bomb project]], and the city was therefore kept closed to outsiders.
Under the name of the Ust-Kamenogorsk Lock, the highest [[Lock (water transport)|lock]] in the world lies at Ablaketka where it allows river traffic to pass around a [[Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Plant|hydroelectric dam]] on the Irtysh river. It has a drop of more than 40m.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterwaysworld.com/latest.cgi?month=012008&start=20 |title=Latest |publisher=Waterways World |date= |accessdate=August 1, 2010}}</ref>

The number of enterprises in Oskemen is very high relative to the number of people living there. There are about 169 firms according to the data from 2002.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.greensalvation.org/old/Russian/Facts/Documents/U_Kamenogorsk_01.htm|title=About the ecological situation of the environment of the city of Oskemen|date=March 20, 2002|publisher=www.greensalvation.org|access-date=April 10, 2016|archive-date=December 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205020108/http://www.greensalvation.org/old/Russian/Facts/Documents/U_Kamenogorsk_01.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most of them are industrial firms, working in [[mining]] and processing of raw materials, mostly [[heavy metals]].


*[[Kazzinc]] is a major fully integrated zinc producer with considerable copper, precious metals and lead credits. The company was established in 1997 through the merger of Eastern Kazakhstan's three main non-ferrous metal companies - Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead and Zinc Combinate, Leninogorsk Polymetallic Combinate and Zyryanovsk Lead Combinate. The company continues to develop seeking to have its stable position among the world's five lowest cost [[zinc]] producers. Apart from zinc it produces on a large-scale [[lead]], [[silver]], [[copper]], and many more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kazzinc.com/en/About_us|title=About us|date=n.d.|publisher=www.kazzinc.com|access-date=April 11, 2016|archive-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017133846/http://www.kazzinc.com/en/About_us|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Since the opening of the [[Three Gorges Dam#Locks|Three Gorges locks in China]], the upper lock of that five-lock [[Staircase locks|cascade]] is theoretically on a par with this lock, but its full drop will be used only in extreme cases, while the Ust-Kamenogorsk lock is designed for permanent use at this height.
* Titanium-Magnesium plant specializes in production and selling nonferrous metals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kase.kz/en/emitters/show/UTMK|title=Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium Magnesium Plant JSC (UTMK)|date=n.d.|publisher=www.kase.kz|access-date=April 11, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306170525/http://www.kase.kz/en/emitters/show/UTMK|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Ulba Metallurgical Plant|Ulba metallurgical plant]] produces hi-tech [[uranium]], [[beryllium]] and [[tantalum]] products for the needs of atomic engineering, electronics, metallurgical and other spheres of operation. The company is among the leaders in production of their specific goods.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ulba.kz/en/company1.htm|title=Company purposes|date=n.d.|publisher=www.ulba.kz|access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref>
* Apart from the mining and processing companies, there are numerous [[Thermal power station|thermoelectric power station]]s and about five [[hydropower plant]]s concentrated around the Ust-Kamenogorsk region of Eastern Kazakhstan.


The highest [[Lock (water transport)|lock]] in the world is the Oskemen Lock<ref name="RyszardPaulus672">{{cite book|last1=Ryszard|first1=Daniel|last2=Paulus|first2=Tim|title=Lock Gates and Other Closures in Hydraulic Projects|year=2018|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann|isbn=9780128096130|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Enx8DwAAQBAJ&q=Oskemen+lock&pg=PA672|pages=672}}</ref> and lies at Ablaketka where it allows river traffic to pass around a [[Oskemen Hydroelectric Power Plant|hydroelectric dam]] on the Irtysh river. It has a drop of more than 40m.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waterwaysworld.com/latest.cgi?month=012008&start=20 |title=Latest |publisher=Waterways World |access-date=August 1, 2010 |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726045506/http://www.waterwaysworld.com/latest.cgi?month=012008&start=20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
A new car plant owned jointly by [[AvtoVAZ]] and [[Azia Avto]], which will produce 120,000 cars a year, will be opened in 2016.<ref>http://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/120-tyisyach-kazahstanskih-avto-v-god-budut-proizvodit-v-ust-kamenogorske-245229/</ref>


==Higher education==
==Higher education==
{{main|List of universities in Kazakhstan#Oskemen}}
{{main|List of universities in Kazakhstan#Oskemen}}


==Sports==
== Culture ==
The city has three cinemas (although during the Soviet era, there were a lot more), three museums, and a drama theater with Russian and Kazakh (since 2000) troupes.
* [[Kazzinc-Torpedo]]: an [[ice hockey]] team. Alma mater of [[National Hockey League|NHL]] players: [[Nik Antropov]], [[Vitali Kolesnik]], [[Konstantin Pushkaryov]], [[Alexander Perezhogin]] and [[Evgeni Nabokov]]. Kazzinc-Torpedo is currently playing in the [[Supreme Hockey League]] (VHL).

* [[FC Vostok]]: [[football (soccer)|football]] club, currently playing in [[Kazakhstan First Division]]
=== Sport ===
* The city participated in the open Kazakh Cup in [[bandy]] 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://www.sports.kz/news/v-petropavlovske-startoval-otkryityiy-kubok-rk-po-hokkeyu-s-myachom|title=Google Translate|author=|date=|website=translate.google.co.uk|accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref>
[[Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace]] serves as home arena to the [[ice hockey]] club [[Kazzinc-Torpedo|HC Torpedo]] (officially Kazzinc-Torpedo, commonly referred to as Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk). Torpedo’s men’s representative team plays in the [[Supreme Hockey League]] (VHL), of which it was a founding member, and the women’s representative team plays in the Kazakh Women's Ice Hockey League. The men’s [[farm team]], [[ShKO Oskemen|Altay-Torpedo]], competes in the [[Kazakhstan Hockey Championship]] and the men’s under-20 team, [[Altay Oskemen|Altay]], plays in the Eastern Conference of the [[Junior Hockey League (Russia)|Junior Hockey League]] (MHL). Torpedo is the alma mater of [[National Hockey League|NHL]] players [[Nik Antropov]], [[Vitali Kolesnik]], [[Evgeni Nabokov]], [[Alexander Perezhogin]], and [[Konstantin Pushkaryov]].
* In 2014 the national [[rink bandy]] championship was organised in town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timeskz.kz/3670-na-chempionate-rk-po-rink-bendi-komanda-zko-zanyala-pervoe-mesto.html|title=На чемпионате РК по ринк-бенди команда ЗКО заняла первое место|author=|date=|website=timeskz.kz|accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref>

The [[Association football|football]] club [[FC Vostok|FC Vostok Oskemen]] was a founding member of the [[Kazakhstan Premier League]] and currently plays in the [[Kazakhstan First Division]]. The team’s home ground is [[Vostok Stadium]].

Oskemen hosted the national [[rink bandy]] championship in 2014 and the national amateur [[bandy]] championship in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timeskz.kz/3670-na-chempionate-rk-po-rink-bendi-komanda-zko-zanyala-pervoe-mesto.html|title=На чемпионате РК по ринк-бенди команда ЗКО заняла первое место|website=timeskz.kz|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051213/https://timeskz.kz/3670-na-chempionate-rk-po-rink-bendi-komanda-zko-zanyala-pervoe-mesto.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prosports.kz/news/266814|title=В ВКО завершился чемпионат РК по хоккею|website=Prosports.kz|date=4 March 2018 }}</ref>


==Religion==
==Religion==
[[File:Church oskemen.jpg|right|Russian Orthodox Church|thumb|200px]]
[[File:Church oskemen.jpg|right|Russian Orthodox Church|thumb|200px]]
[[File:Mosque oskemen.jpg|right|Mosque in Oskemen|thumb|200px]]
[[File:Mosque oskemen.jpg|right|Mosque in Oskemen|thumb|200px]]
There are 32 religious unions, presenting 15 religious confessions, including [[Christianity|Christian]], [[Muslim]] and non-traditional religions. There are 21 cultural buildings in the city: among them [[Orthodox Christian]] churches and [[mosques]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oskemen.kz/en/politics5.htm |title=Domestic policy |publisher=www.oskemen.kz |date=April 19, 2001 |accessdate=January 25, 2011}}</ref> However, in 2017 a court fined and banned Oskemen's New Life Protestant Church for singing religious songs at a summer camp.<ref>Release International Magazine Nov/Dec 2017</ref>
With ethnic [[Russians]] comprising the demographic majority of the population, [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] is the dominant religion of Oskemen. There are 32 religious unions, presenting 15 religious confessions, including [[Muslim]], [[Christianity|Christian]], and non-traditional religions. There are 21 cultural buildings in the city: among them [[Eastern Orthodox|Orthodox Christian]] churches and [[mosques]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oskemen.kz/en/politics5.htm |title=Domestic policy |publisher=www.oskemen.kz |date=April 19, 2001 |access-date=January 25, 2011 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722142714/http://www.oskemen.kz/en/politics5.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, in 2017 a court fined and banned Oskemen's New Life Protestant Church for singing religious songs at a summer camp.<ref>Release International Magazine Nov/Dec 2017</ref>


==Transport==
==Transport==
The city has an international airport, [[Oskemen Airport]].
The city has an international airport, [[Oskemen Airport]].


Oskemen's tram system has 4 lines.
Until its closure in March 2018, the most popular form of public transport was the tram, although its share in total traffic was less than the bus network.


Intercity bus service is available at two bus stations. The most extensive network, with more than 35 lines, is at the railway station, which is located by the Sports Palace on Novoshkolnaya Street. From this station, buses not only serve cities within Kazakhstan, but also Russian cities such as Krasnoyarsk. The route network at the second station covers a smaller area with 17 lines.
Intercity bus service is available at two bus stations. The most extensive network, with more than 35 lines, is at the railway station, which is located by the Sports Palace on Novoshkolnaya Street. From this station, buses not only serve cities within Kazakhstan, but also Russian cities such as Krasnoyarsk. The route network at the second station covers a smaller area with 17 lines.


==Climate==
==Climate==
Oskemen has a continental climate with intermittent precipitation. The coldest months are November through March. Record low temperatures range from −49&nbsp;°C in January to 4&nbsp;°C in July, and record highs range from 8&nbsp;°C in January to 43&nbsp;°C in July.
Oskemen has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfb''). The coldest months are November through March. Record low temperatures range from −49&nbsp;°C in January to 4&nbsp;°C in July, and record highs range from 8&nbsp;°C in January to 43&nbsp;°C in July.

{{Weather box
|location=Oskemen (1991-2020, extremes 1895-present)
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C = 9.0
|Feb record high C = 10.5
|Mar record high C = 22.0
|Apr record high C = 31.9
|May record high C = 38.0
|Jun record high C = 37.5
|Jul record high C = 41.0
|Aug record high C = 42.8
|Sep record high C = 38.6
|Oct record high C = 29.3
|Nov record high C = 22.7
|Dec record high C = 11.9
|year record high C = 42.8
|Jan high C= -9.8
|Feb high C= -7.0
|Mar high C= 0.4
|Apr high C = 13.9
|May high C = 21.6
|Jun high C = 26.2
|Jul high C = 27.8
|Aug high C = 26.7
|Sep high C = 20.6
|Oct high C = 12.3
|Nov high C = 0.6
|Dec high C = -6.8
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = −15.3
|Feb mean C = −13.3
|Mar mean C = -5.5
|Apr mean C = 7.0
|May mean C = 14.1
|Jun mean C = 19.2
|Jul mean C = 20.5
|Aug mean C = 18.2
|Sep mean C = 12.3
|Oct mean C = 5.4
|Nov mean C = -4.7
|Dec mean C = -11.6
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = -20.4
|Feb low C = -19.2
|Mar low C = -11.0
|Apr low C = 0.5
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 12.5
|Jul low C = 14.2
|Aug low C = 11.4
|Sep low C = 4.6
|Oct low C = -0.2
|Nov low C = -9.1
|Dec low C = -16.3
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = −47.2
|Feb record low C = −44.6
|Mar record low C = −40.0
|Apr record low C = −26.1
|May record low C = −7.3
|Jun record low C = -1.3
|Jul record low C = 1.3
|Aug record low C = -0.7
|Sep record low C = −8.9
|Oct record low C = −21.5
|Nov record low C = −42.8
|Dec record low C = −42.2
|year record low C = -47.2
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm = 28
|Feb precipitation mm = 26
|Mar precipitation mm = 30
|Apr precipitation mm = 38
|May precipitation mm = 42
|Jun precipitation mm = 48
|Jul precipitation mm = 64
|Aug precipitation mm = 39
|Sep precipitation mm = 30
|Oct precipitation mm = 44
|Nov precipitation mm = 50
|Dec precipitation mm = 38
|year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days= 6.5
|Feb precipitation days= 6.1
|Mar precipitation days= 6.8
|Apr precipitation days= 7.1
|May precipitation days= 6.7
|Jun precipitation days= 7.7
|Jul precipitation days= 8.9
|Aug precipitation days= 6.3
|Sep precipitation days= 5.6
|Oct precipitation days= 8.4
|Nov precipitation days= 9.2
|Dec precipitation days= 8.4
|year precipitation days=
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name="pogoda">{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/36403.htm | title = Климат Усть-Каменогорска - Погода и климат| access-date = Jan 2, 2022
| language = ru}}</ref>
|source 2 =[[NOAA]]<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Kazakhstan/XLS/UstKamenogorsk_36403.xls|title=Oskemen Climate Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=1 November 2023 }}</ref>
|date=November 2011
}}


==Ecology==
==Ecology==
As expected in a city with a lot of heavy industry, the atmosphere of the city holds the by-products of the heavy metals production: [[nitrogen dioxide]], [[sulfur dioxide]], Zn, Cd, Cl, As, C, Be, [[phenol]], [[Benzene|benzol]], NaOH, NH3, [[radioactivity]] etc. in general there are about 170 polluting components found in the city.<ref name="auto" />
The number of enterprises in Oskemen is very high relatively to the number of people living there. There are about 169 firms according to the data from 2002.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.greensalvation.org/old/Russian/Facts/Documents/U_Kamenogorsk_01.htm |title=About the ecological situation of the environment of the city of Oskemen |publisher=www.greensalvation.org |date=March 20, 2002 |accessdate=April 10, 2016}}</ref> Most of them are industrial firms, which work on [[mining]] and processing raw materials and mostly [[heavy metals]]. To name a few there are several giants among those enterprises that all are situated in just one city:


There are 3 impact points that are influenced in Oskemen. The atmosphere is hit most. With a poor urban ventilation (the average percentage of calm 48%),<ref name="auto" /> with a large number of vehicles and stationary sources relevance of [[air pollution]] in Oskemen is not in doubt. The concentration of harmful substances in the air is increasing each year because of the nature of the companies which are looking for increases in the production and profits. As usual, the pollution is enhanced by the low quality of car fuels and an increase in the number of cars. As a result of all this, Oskemen is often recognized as one of the most [[polluted]] regional centers of Kazakhstan.
# [[Kazzinc]] is a major fully integrated zinc producer with considerable copper, precious metals and lead credits. The company was established in 1997 through the merger of Eastern Kazakhstan's three main non-ferrous metal companies - Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead and Zinc Combinate, Leninogorsk Polymetallic Combinate and Zyryanovsk Lead Combinate. The company continues to develop seeking to have its stable position among the world's five lowest cost [[zinc]] producers. Apart from zinc it produces on a large-scale [[lead]], [[silver]], [[copper]], and many more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kazzinc.com/en/About_us |title=About us |publisher=www.kazzinc.com |date=n.d. |accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref>
# Titanium-Magnesium plant specializes on production and selling nonferrous metals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kase.kz/en/emitters/show/UTMK |title=Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium Magnesium Plant JSC (UTMK) |publisher=www.kase.kz |date=n.d. |accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref>
# [[Ulba metallurgical plant]] produces hi-tech [[uranium]], [[beryllium]] and [[tantalum]] products for the needs of atomic engineering, electronics, metallurgical and other spheres of operation. The company is among the leaders in production of their specific goods.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ulba.kz/en/company1.htm |title=Company purposes |publisher=www.ulba.kz |date=n.d. |accessdate=April 10, 2016}}</ref>
# Apart from the mining and processing companies, there are numerous [[Thermal power station|thermoelectric power station]]s and about five [[hydropower plant]]s concentrated around the Ust-Kamenogorsk region of Eastern Kazakhstan.

As it should be expected all of the plants have their own contribution to the pollution of atmosphere, water, and the soil. This city’s situation is different from other cities like [[Almaty]] where the most part of the ecological problem comes from the [[car emissions]]. Here the atmosphere of the city holds the by-products of the heavy metals production as different as [[nitrogen dioxide]], [[sulfur dioxide]], Zn, Cd, Cl, As, C, Be, [[phenol]], [[Benzene|benzol]], NaOH, NH3, [[radioactivity]] etc. in general there are about 170 polluting components found in the city.<ref name="auto"/>

There are 3 impact points that are influenced in Oskemen. The atmosphere is hit most. With a poor [[urban ventilation]] (the average percentage of calm 48%),<ref name="auto"/> with a large number of vehicles and stationary sources relevance of [[air pollution]] in Oskemen is not in doubt. The concentration of harmful substanes in the air is increasing each year because of the nature of the companies which are looking for increases in the production and profits. As usual, the pollution is enhanced by the low quality of car fuels and increase in the number of cars. As a result of all this, Oskemen is often recognized as one of the most [[polluted]] regional centers of Kazakhstan.


The most polluted rivers of the Republic are those flowing through the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, where the highest index of surface water pollution is observed in the mining areas and enrichment of [[polymetal]]lic ores.<ref name="auto"/> Mostly the water is affected through the [[industrial waste]]s and the storages of waste. [[water contamination|Contamination of the water]] with lead, [[selenium]], cadmium, [[nitrates]] spreads on many kilometers as a consequence of which a few [[drinking water]] intakes in the Western part of the city are closed or to be closed.
The most polluted rivers of the Republic are those flowing through the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, where the highest index of surface water pollution is observed in the mining areas and enrichment of [[polymetal]]lic ores.<ref name="auto"/> Mostly the water is affected through the [[industrial waste]]s and the storages of waste. [[water contamination|Contamination of the water]] with lead, [[selenium]], cadmium, [[nitrates]] spreads on many kilometers as a consequence of which a few [[drinking water]] intakes in the Western part of the city are closed or to be closed.
Line 107: Line 227:
As a result of large production of uranium and presence of other radioactive elements such thorium, radon or radioactive dust the radioactive background of the city is remarkable with the zones of radioactive anomaly which are spread around the city.<ref name="auto"/>
As a result of large production of uranium and presence of other radioactive elements such thorium, radon or radioactive dust the radioactive background of the city is remarkable with the zones of radioactive anomaly which are spread around the city.<ref name="auto"/>


Oskemen is known to be the leader in Kazakhstan by the number of people having respiratory problems and the diseases of immune system. The statistics shows that the most frequent diseases are respiratory diseases and the urogenital system diseases. In the last years, the number of people having cancer is also increasing.
Oskemen is known to be the leader in Kazakhstan by the number of people having respiratory problems and the diseases of immune system. The statistics show that the most frequent diseases are respiratory diseases and urogenital system diseases. In the last years, the number of people having cancer has been also increasing.


==Twin towns – sister cities==
==Culture==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Asia#Kazakhstan|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Kazakhstan}}

Oskemen is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
The city has three cinemas (although during the Soviet era, there were a lot more), three museums, a drama theater with Russian and Kazakh (since 2000) troupes, the [[Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace]].
*{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Babruysk]], Belarus<ref>{{cite web |title=Есть ли побратимы у Актау и других городов Казахстана|url=https://tumba.kz/zhizn-regiona/11-zhizn-regiona/43012-Est_li_pobratimy_u_Aktau_i_drugih_gorodov_Kazahstan.html|website=tumba.kz|publisher=Tumba|language=ru|date=2019-05-04|access-date=2020-11-30}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Barnaul]], Russia<ref>{{cite web |title=США, Испания и Китай: в каких еще странах у Барнаула есть города-побратимы?|url=https://tolknews.ru/news/1272-kakie-goroda-pobratimy-est-u-barnaula|website=tolknews.ru|publisher=Tolk|language=ru|date=2020-10-31|access-date=2020-11-30}}</ref>
==International relations==
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Tacheng]], China<ref>{{cite web |title="新疆维吾尔自治区友城介绍|url=http://fao.xinjiang.gov.cn/xjwqb/ycyx/201208/21615331c0ea4225af1249aed04cb510.shtml|website=xinjiang.gov.cn|publisher=Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region|language=zh|date=2012-08-09|access-date=2020-07-14}}</ref>
{{see also|List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Asia#Kazakhstan|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Kazakhstan}}
<!--Gangneung - not twinning-->

===Twin towns – Sister cities===
Oskemen is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
* {{flagicon|BLR}} [[Babruysk]], Belarus
* {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Gangneung]], South Korea (2011)
* {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Bursa]], Turkey (2011)
* {{flagicon|ISR}} [[Yokneam Illit|Yokneam]], Israel (2012)
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Barnaul]], Russia (2012)


==People==
==People==
*[[Max Birbraer]] (born 1980), Kazakhstan-born Israeli ice hockey right wing currently playing for the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League.
*[[Max Birbraer]] (born 1980), Kazakhstan-born Israeli ice hockey right wing currently playing for the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League.
*[[Anton Khudobin]], ice hockey goalie currently playing for the [[Dallas Stars]] of the [[NHL]].
*[[Anton Khudobin]], ice hockey goalie currently playing for the [[Texas Stars]] of the [[American Hockey League|AHL]].
*[[Nik Antropov]], ice hockey centre who played in the NHL and the KHL.
*[[Nik Antropov]], ice hockey centre who played in the NHL and the KHL.
*[[Georgy Malenkov]], former [[Premier of the Soviet Union]]; exiled by [[Nikita Khrushchev]] to Oskemen to manage the hydroelectric plant after [[Anti-Party Group|an abortive coup plot]].
*[[Georgy Malenkov]], former [[Premier of the Soviet Union]]; exiled by [[Nikita Khrushchev]] to Oskemen to manage the hydroelectric plant after [[Anti-Party Group|an abortive coup plot]].
*[[Evgeni Nabokov]], former ice hockey goalie. Played for the [[San Jose Sharks]], [[New York Islanders]] and [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] of the NHL. Ranks 18th all time in the NHL for regular season wins and holds every major goaltending record for San Jose.
*[[Evgeni Nabokov]], former ice hockey goalie. Played for the [[San Jose Sharks]], [[New York Islanders]] and [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] of the NHL. Ranks 18th all time in the NHL for regular season wins and holds every major goaltending record for San Jose.
*[[Alexander Perezhogin]], former ice hockey player for the [[Montreal Canadiens]].
*[[Olga Rypakova]], Olympic long jumper. She won a gold medal for Kazakhstan in the triple jump at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], and a bronze medal in the same event at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].
*[[Olga Rypakova]], Olympic long jumper. She won a gold medal for Kazakhstan in the triple jump at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], and a bronze medal in the same event at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].
*[[Katsiaryna Snytsina]], Kazakhstani-born Belarusian basketball player, won a bronze medal at the [[EuroBasket Women 2007|2007 European Championships]]

* [[David Tonoyan]] (born 1967), Kazakhstan-born Armenian politician and the current [[Defence Minister of Armenia]].
*[[David Tonoyan]] (born 1967), Kazakhstan-born Armenian politician and the former [[Defence Minister of Armenia]].
* [[Alexander Akmaldinov]], hockey player


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Project Sapphire]]
* [[Project Sapphire]]


== Notes ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


Line 155: Line 270:
[[Category:Semipalatinsk Oblast]]
[[Category:Semipalatinsk Oblast]]
[[Category:1720 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:1720 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Irtysh River]]

Revision as of 02:49, 15 September 2024

"Kamenogorsk" redirects here. Not to be confused with Kamennogorsk.
Oskemen
Öskemen, Өскемен (Kazakh)
Усть-Каменогорск (Russian)
City
From the top, View over Oskemen, New Mosque of Oskemen, Palace of Culture
Flag of Oskemen
Flag
Official seal of Oskemen
Seal
Oskemen is located in Kazakhstan
Oskemen
Oskemen
Location in Kazakhstan
Coordinates: 49°59′N 82°37′E / 49.983°N 82.617°E / 49.983; 82.617
Country Kazakhstan
RegionEast Kazakhstan Region
Founded1720
Incorporated (city)1868
Government
 • AkimZhaksylyk Omar
Area
 • Total
540 km2 (210 sq mi)
Elevation
283 m (928 ft)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
400,142 Increase
Time zoneUTC+5
Postal code
F0*****[1]
Area code+7 7232
Vehicle registrationF, 16
Websitewww.oskemen.kz

Oskemen (Template:Lang-kk [ʉ̯ɵskʲeˈmʲen] (listenⓘ)) or Ust-Kamenogorsk (Russian: Усть-Каменогорск, IPA: [ˌʊsʲtʲ kəmʲɪnɐˈgorsk]) is the largest city in the east of Kazakhstan and the administrative center of East Kazakhstan Region of Kazakhstan.

Name

The city has two official names.[2] In the Kazakh language, its name is Өскемен/Oskemen and in the Russian language it is known as Усть-Каменогорск. Both names appear on the seal of the city.[3]

History

The city was founded in 1720 at the confluence of the Irtysh and Ulba rivers as a fort and trading post named Ust-Kamennaya.[4] It was established according to the order of the Russian Emperor Peter the Great, who sent a military expedition headed by major Ivan Vasilievich Likharev in the search of Yarkenda gold. Likharev’s expedition directed up the Irtysh River to Zaysan Lake. There, at the confluence of the Ulba and the Irtysh rivers the new fortress was laid – the Ust-Kamennaya Fortress. The Ust-Kamennaya Fortress appeared on the map of the Russian Empire, the very southern end of the Irtysh line.[5] In 1868 the city became the capital of the Semipalatinsk Oblast. It was the site of Georgy Malenkov's 30-year internal exile, during which he managed a local hydroelectric plant.[6]

One of the main industrial enterprises, the Ulba Metal Works (UMW) which produced and still produces uranium products, was kept entirely secret despite it employing thousands of workers. An explosion at the UMW's beryllium production line in 1990 led to the diffusion of a highly toxic beryllium-containing "cloud" over the city. The health effects of this incident are not entirely known, partly because the incident was kept secret by the Soviet authorities.[7]

In 2017, the Ulba Metallurgical Plant was inaugurated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the home of the Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) bank - which serves as a supply mechanism of last resort for IAEA member states.[8] The LEU bank is a physical stock of 90 metric tons of LEU hexaflouride, enough uranium to power a large city for three years.[9] The facility was wholly funded by IAEA member states and other contributions for a total of $150 million. This is expected to cover costs for 20 years.[10] Responsibility for safety, security, and safeguarding falls under the responsibilities of local authorities in Osmeken.[11]

Economy

The city developed into a major mining and metallurgical center during the Soviet period. Processing of non-ferrous metals, especially uranium, beryllium, tantalum, copper, lead, silver and zinc remain important.[12] It is a center for the construction industry producing manufactured housing and ferroconcrete articles. The post-war industrial history of the city is very closely intertwined with the Soviet nuclear bomb project, and the city was therefore kept closed to outsiders.

The number of enterprises in Oskemen is very high relative to the number of people living there. There are about 169 firms according to the data from 2002.[13] Most of them are industrial firms, working in mining and processing of raw materials, mostly heavy metals.

  • Kazzinc is a major fully integrated zinc producer with considerable copper, precious metals and lead credits. The company was established in 1997 through the merger of Eastern Kazakhstan's three main non-ferrous metal companies - Ust-Kamenogorsk Lead and Zinc Combinate, Leninogorsk Polymetallic Combinate and Zyryanovsk Lead Combinate. The company continues to develop seeking to have its stable position among the world's five lowest cost zinc producers. Apart from zinc it produces on a large-scale lead, silver, copper, and many more.[14]
  • Titanium-Magnesium plant specializes in production and selling nonferrous metals.[15]
  • Ulba metallurgical plant produces hi-tech uranium, beryllium and tantalum products for the needs of atomic engineering, electronics, metallurgical and other spheres of operation. The company is among the leaders in production of their specific goods.[16]
  • Apart from the mining and processing companies, there are numerous thermoelectric power stations and about five hydropower plants concentrated around the Ust-Kamenogorsk region of Eastern Kazakhstan.

The highest lock in the world is the Oskemen Lock[17] and lies at Ablaketka where it allows river traffic to pass around a hydroelectric dam on the Irtysh river. It has a drop of more than 40m.[18]

Higher education

Main article: List of universities in Kazakhstan § Oskemen

Culture

The city has three cinemas (although during the Soviet era, there were a lot more), three museums, and a drama theater with Russian and Kazakh (since 2000) troupes.

Sport

Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace serves as home arena to the ice hockey club HC Torpedo (officially Kazzinc-Torpedo, commonly referred to as Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk). Torpedo’s men’s representative team plays in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL), of which it was a founding member, and the women’s representative team plays in the Kazakh Women's Ice Hockey League. The men’s farm team, Altay-Torpedo, competes in the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship and the men’s under-20 team, Altay, plays in the Eastern Conference of the Junior Hockey League (MHL). Torpedo is the alma mater of NHL players Nik Antropov, Vitali Kolesnik, Evgeni Nabokov, Alexander Perezhogin, and Konstantin Pushkaryov.

The football club FC Vostok Oskemen was a founding member of the Kazakhstan Premier League and currently plays in the Kazakhstan First Division. The team’s home ground is Vostok Stadium.

Oskemen hosted the national rink bandy championship in 2014 and the national amateur bandy championship in 2018.[19][20]

Religion

Russian Orthodox Church
Mosque in Oskemen

With ethnic Russians comprising the demographic majority of the population, Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion of Oskemen. There are 32 religious unions, presenting 15 religious confessions, including Muslim, Christian, and non-traditional religions. There are 21 cultural buildings in the city: among them Orthodox Christian churches and mosques.[21] However, in 2017 a court fined and banned Oskemen's New Life Protestant Church for singing religious songs at a summer camp.[22]

Transport

The city has an international airport, Oskemen Airport.

Oskemen's tram system has 4 lines.

Intercity bus service is available at two bus stations. The most extensive network, with more than 35 lines, is at the railway station, which is located by the Sports Palace on Novoshkolnaya Street. From this station, buses not only serve cities within Kazakhstan, but also Russian cities such as Krasnoyarsk. The route network at the second station covers a smaller area with 17 lines.

Climate

Oskemen has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb). The coldest months are November through March. Record low temperatures range from −49 °C in January to 4 °C in July, and record highs range from 8 °C in January to 43 °C in July.

Climate data for Oskemen (1991-2020, extremes 1895-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2) 		10.5
(50.9) 		22.0
(71.6) 		31.9
(89.4) 		38.0
(100.4) 		37.5
(99.5) 		41.0
(105.8) 		42.8
(109.0) 		38.6
(101.5) 		29.3
(84.7) 		22.7
(72.9) 		11.9
(53.4) 		42.8
(109.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −9.8
(14.4) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		0.4
(32.7) 		13.9
(57.0) 		21.6
(70.9) 		26.2
(79.2) 		27.8
(82.0) 		26.7
(80.1) 		20.6
(69.1) 		12.3
(54.1) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−6.8
(19.8) 		10.5
(51.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −15.3
(4.5) 		−13.3
(8.1) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		7.0
(44.6) 		14.1
(57.4) 		19.2
(66.6) 		20.5
(68.9) 		18.2
(64.8) 		12.3
(54.1) 		5.4
(41.7) 		−4.7
(23.5) 		−11.6
(11.1) 		3.9
(39.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −20.4
(−4.7) 		−19.2
(−2.6) 		−11.0
(12.2) 		0.5
(32.9) 		6.9
(44.4) 		12.5
(54.5) 		14.2
(57.6) 		11.4
(52.5) 		4.6
(40.3) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		−9.1
(15.6) 		−16.3
(2.7) 		−2.2
(28.1)
Record low °C (°F) −47.2
(−53.0) 		−44.6
(−48.3) 		−40
(−40) 		−26.1
(−15.0) 		−7.3
(18.9) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		1.3
(34.3) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		−8.9
(16.0) 		−21.5
(−6.7) 		−42.8
(−45.0) 		−42.2
(−44.0) 		−47.2
(−53.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 28
(1.1) 		26
(1.0) 		30
(1.2) 		38
(1.5) 		42
(1.7) 		48
(1.9) 		64
(2.5) 		39
(1.5) 		30
(1.2) 		44
(1.7) 		50
(2.0) 		38
(1.5) 		477
(18.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.5 6.1 6.8 7.1 6.7 7.7 8.9 6.3 5.6 8.4 9.2 8.4 87.7
Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[23]
Source 2: NOAA[24]

Ecology

As expected in a city with a lot of heavy industry, the atmosphere of the city holds the by-products of the heavy metals production: nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, Zn, Cd, Cl, As, C, Be, phenol, benzol, NaOH, NH3, radioactivity etc. in general there are about 170 polluting components found in the city.[13]

There are 3 impact points that are influenced in Oskemen. The atmosphere is hit most. With a poor urban ventilation (the average percentage of calm 48%),[13] with a large number of vehicles and stationary sources relevance of air pollution in Oskemen is not in doubt. The concentration of harmful substances in the air is increasing each year because of the nature of the companies which are looking for increases in the production and profits. As usual, the pollution is enhanced by the low quality of car fuels and an increase in the number of cars. As a result of all this, Oskemen is often recognized as one of the most polluted regional centers of Kazakhstan.

The most polluted rivers of the Republic are those flowing through the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, where the highest index of surface water pollution is observed in the mining areas and enrichment of polymetallic ores.[13] Mostly the water is affected through the industrial wastes and the storages of waste. Contamination of the water with lead, selenium, cadmium, nitrates spreads on many kilometers as a consequence of which a few drinking water intakes in the Western part of the city are closed or to be closed.

The soil close to the industry territories holds the solid wastes of the firms and becomes less suitable for planting. An increasing number of industrial waste requires a large area for the storage of waste.[13]

As a result of large production of uranium and presence of other radioactive elements such thorium, radon or radioactive dust the radioactive background of the city is remarkable with the zones of radioactive anomaly which are spread around the city.[13]

Oskemen is known to be the leader in Kazakhstan by the number of people having respiratory problems and the diseases of immune system. The statistics show that the most frequent diseases are respiratory diseases and urogenital system diseases. In the last years, the number of people having cancer has been also increasing.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Kazakhstan

Oskemen is twinned with:

People

See also

References

  1. ^ "Почтовые индексы УСТЬ-КАМЕНОГОРСК ГОРОД, Казахстан. Поиск индекса по адресу". bizgid.kz.
  2. ^ "oskemen.vko.gov.kz / ГлавнаяОпросы". oskemen.vko.gov.kz. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Ust-Kamenogorsk city, Kazakhstan overview, history, photos". aboutkazakhstan.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica on-line
  5. ^ "Информация о городе". www.oskemen.kz. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
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  7. ^ Rich, Vera (1990). "'Years of neglect' led to beryllium blast". New Scientist. Archived from the original on 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  8. ^ "IAEA LEU Bank Becomes Operational with Delivery of Low Enriched Uranium". www.iaea.org. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  9. ^ "IAEA LEU Storage Facility to open in Kazakhstan in mid-August: Minister". akipress.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
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  11. ^ "IAEA Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank". www.iaea.org. 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  12. ^ "Oskemen Travel Guide". Caravanistan. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "About the ecological situation of the environment of the city of Oskemen". www.greensalvation.org. March 20, 2002. Archived from the original on December 5, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  14. ^ "About us". www.kazzinc.com. n.d. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  15. ^ "Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium Magnesium Plant JSC (UTMK)". www.kase.kz. n.d. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  16. ^ "Company purposes". www.ulba.kz. n.d. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  17. ^ Ryszard, Daniel; Paulus, Tim (2018). Lock Gates and Other Closures in Hydraulic Projects. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 672. ISBN 9780128096130.
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  19. ^ "На чемпионате РК по ринк-бенди команда ЗКО заняла первое место". timeskz.kz. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  20. ^ "В ВКО завершился чемпионат РК по хоккею". Prosports.kz. 4 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Domestic policy". www.oskemen.kz. April 19, 2001. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  22. ^ Release International Magazine Nov/Dec 2017
  23. ^ "Климат Усть-Каменогорска - Погода и климат" (in Russian). Retrieved Jan 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "Oskemen Climate Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Есть ли побратимы у Актау и других городов Казахстана". tumba.kz (in Russian). Tumba. 2019-05-04. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  26. ^ "США, Испания и Китай: в каких еще странах у Барнаула есть города-побратимы?". tolknews.ru (in Russian). Tolk. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
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49°59′N 82°37′E / 49.983°N 82.617°E / 49.983; 82.617

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