Atyrau

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City in Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan

title: "Atyrau" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["atyrau", "populated-places-in-atyrau-region", "ural-oblast-(russian-empire)", "populated-places-established-in-1640", "populated-places-on-the-caspian-sea", "1640-establishments-in-russia", "cities-and-towns-in-kazakhstan", "transcontinental-cities", "port-cities-and-towns-of-the-caspian-sea"] description: "City in Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atyrau" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameAtyrau
native_namekk
settlement_typeCity
image_skyline{{Photomontage
photo1aУрал река.jpg
photo2aТенгизшевройл и Марриотт.jpg
photo2bЕвропейская сторона города Атырау.jpg
photo3aАкимат Атырау .jpg
photo3bИсатай Махамбет.jpg
photo4aOrtodox Church in Atyrau - panoramio.jpg
photo4bKościół w Atyrau.jpg
spacing2
positioncenter
color_borderwhite
colorwhite
size290
imagesize340px
image_captionClockwise from top: Central Bridge above the Ural River which connects Europe and Asia during the evening; European side of Atyrau; Isatay and Makhambet Monument; An orthodox church; Catholic Cathedral The city government building; The Marriott Executive Apartment during the morning.
image_flagFlag of Atyrau, Kazakhstan.svg
image_sealCoat of arms of Atyrau.svg
pushpin_mapKazakhstan#Europe#Asia
pushpin_label_positionleft
pushpin_mapsize280
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Kazakhstan##Location in Europe##Location in Asia
pushpin_reliefyes
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_nameKazakhstan
subdivision_name1Atyrau Region
established_titleFounded
established_date1640
established_title2City status
established_date21885
leader_titleAkim (mayor)
leader_nameShakir Keikin
population_as_of2024
population_total404,129
population_metro501,467
population_density_km2auto
utc_offset+05:00
timezoneKazakhstan Time
coordinates
elevation_m-20
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code060001–060011
area_code(+7) 7122
registration_plateE, 06
blank_name_sec1HDI (2024)
blank_info_sec10.856
· 4
blank1_name_sec2GDP (nominal)
blank1_info_sec22024
blank2_name_sec2• Total
blank2_info_sec2$36,035 billion
(KZT17,8 trillion million)
blank3_name_sec2• Per capita
blank3_info_sec2$89,196
(KZT 19 974,1 thousand)
website
::

| official_name = Atyrau | native_name = kk | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | photo1a = Урал река.jpg | photo2a = Тенгизшевройл и Марриотт.jpg | photo2b = Европейская сторона города Атырау.jpg | photo3a = Акимат Атырау .jpg | photo3b = Исатай Махамбет.jpg | photo4a = Ortodox Church in Atyrau - panoramio.jpg | photo4b = Kościół w Atyrau.jpg | spacing = 2 | position = center | color_border = white | color = white | size = 290 | foot_montage = | imagesize = 340px | image_caption = Clockwise from top: Central Bridge above the Ural River which connects Europe and Asia during the evening; European side of Atyrau; Isatay and Makhambet Monument; An orthodox church; Catholic Cathedral The city government building; The Marriott Executive Apartment during the morning. | image_flag = Flag of Atyrau, Kazakhstan.svg | image_seal = Coat of arms of Atyrau.svg | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Kazakhstan#Europe#Asia | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_mapsize = 280 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kazakhstan##Location in Europe##Location in Asia | pushpin_relief = yes | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name = Kazakhstan | subdivision_name1 = Atyrau Region | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1640 | established_title2 = City status | established_date2 = 1885 | government_type = | leader_title = Akim (mayor) | leader_name = Shakir Keikin | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_land_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2024 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 404,129 | population_urban = | population_metro = 501,467 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = auto | utc_offset = +05:00 | timezone = Kazakhstan Time | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = -20 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 060001–060011 | area_code = (+7) 7122 | registration_plate = E, 06 | blank_name_sec1 = HDI (2024) | blank_info_sec1 = 0.856 · 4 | blank1_name_sec2 = GDP (nominal) | blank1_info_sec2 = 2024 | blank2_name_sec2 = • Total | blank2_info_sec2 = $36,035 billion (KZT17,8 trillion million) | blank3_name_sec2 = • Per capita | blank3_info_sec2 = $89,196 (KZT 19 974,1 thousand) | website = | footnotes =

Atyrau (, ; , ; ), known until 1991 as Guryev (), is a city in Kazakhstan and the capital of Atyrau Region. Atyrau is a transcontinental city, at the mouth of the Ural River on the Caspian Sea, between Europe and Asia, 2,700 km west of Almaty and 351 km east of the Russian city of Astrakhan.

Atyrau is famous for its oil and gas industries. It has a population of 355,117 as of 2020. It is predominantly made up of Kazakhs, the minorities being Russians, Koreans, Tatars and Uzbeks.

History

The wooden fort at the mouth of the Yaik River was founded in 1645 as Nizhny Yaitzky gorodok (literally, Lower Yaik Fort) by the Russian trader Gury Nazarov, a native of Yaroslavl, who specialized in trade with Khiva and Bukhara. The fort was plundered by the Yaik Cossacks, leading the Guriev family to rebuild it in stone (1647–62). Tsar Alexis sent a garrison of Streltsy to protect the fort from Cossack incursions. Despite these efforts, the Cossack rebel Stepan Razin held the town in 1667 and 1668. The fort gradually lost its strategic significance and was demolished in 1810. Between 1708 and 1992 the city was known as Guriev. The Kazakh name Atyrau means 'river delta'.

Two parts of the world have the city. The side of Samarskaya (right side of the river) lies in Europe and the left bank of Bukharskaya is in Asia. It was established in 1615, by the employer Mikhail Guriev, who applied the decree to tzar Mikhail Fedorovich for a monopoly in the mouth of Ural to fish sturgeons.

Origin of the name

Murzaev E. Dictionary of popular geographical terms (1984) states: :"The branched coast of a large lake or sea, on which appeared the bay and islands, the estuaries of rivers and capes. The north-eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, including its alyp, the locals still call Atyrau."

A. Nurmaganbetov and M. Khobdabayev state: :"The word atyrau, which earlier means "island", also grasps the concept of the word saga -" the mouth of the river, "and this is natural, whatever the river, at the point where it enters the ocean or the sea, its mouth branches out, and between each branch appears dry. We think that this is the main reason for joint use of Atyrau together with the "mouth of the river". Ecological Kazakh–Russian Dictionary (2001) states: :Atyrau is a tract, a cane shoal in the mouth of the Urals.

Geography

Atyrau (together with Aktau) is Kazakhstan's main harbour city on the Caspian Sea, Atyrau at the delta of the Ural River. Atyrau city is approximately 20 m below sea level. The city is considered to be located both in Asia and Europe, as it is divided by the Ural River. The city is a hub for the oil-rich Caspian Depression; because of this, many oil wells have been drilled in the Tengiz Field and Kashagan Field areas. An oil pipeline runs from Atyrau to Samara, where it joins the Russian pipeline system. A separate oil pipeline runs from the Tengiz field to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk.

Demographics

At the beginning of 2020, the population of the city is 290,700 people, 355,117 people in the territory of the city akimat.

National composition (at the beginning of 2020):

Climate

Atyrau's climate is semi-arid (Köppen climate classification BSk), just shy of being classified as arid (Köppen climate classification BWk), with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is low throughout the year. Snow is common, though light in winter. The lowest temperature on record is -37.9 °C, recorded in 1909, and the highest temperature is 44.6 °C, recorded in August 1940. It is much more continental than areas further west on the European continent, with summers characterized by temperatures averaging 33 C and lack of precipitation, resembling continental hot-summer mediterranean climates, and subarctic winters with little snow but with chilling temperatures. These vast temperature swings are more comparable to Siberia and the North American plains.

The unofficial record high temperature is 50 °C (122 °F) on 4 July 1911, which would be the highest temperature recorded in Kazakhstan.

|location = Atyrau (1991–2020, extremes 1881–present) |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 10.5 |Feb record high C = 15.0 |Mar record high C = 26.3 |Apr record high C = 34.5 |May record high C = 38.9 |Jun record high C = 42.8 |Jul record high C = 42.7 |Aug record high C = 44.6 |Sep record high C = 40.1 |Oct record high C = 29.6 |Nov record high C = 20.0 |Dec record high C = 11.9 |year record high C = 44.6 |Jan high C = -3.0 |Feb high C = -1.3 |Mar high C = 6.8 |Apr high C = 17.3 |May high C = 25.3 |Jun high C = 31.3 |Jul high C = 33.7 |Aug high C = 32.2 |Sep high C = 24.7 |Oct high C = 15.6 |Nov high C = 5.3 |Dec high C = -1.2 |year high C = 15.6 |Jan mean C = -6.4 |Feb mean C = -5.6 |Mar mean C = 1.9 |Apr mean C = 11.6 |May mean C = 19.4 |Jun mean C = 25.1 |Jul mean C = 27.4 |Aug mean C = 25.6 |Sep mean C = 18.4 |Oct mean C = 10.2 |Nov mean C = 1.5 |Dec mean C = -4.2 |year mean C = 10.4 |Jan low C = -9.3 |Feb low C = -9.0 |Mar low C = -2.1 |Apr low C = 6.5 |May low C = 13.7 |Jun low C = 18.8 |Jul low C = 21.0 |Aug low C = 19.2 |Sep low C = 12.7 |Oct low C = 5.5 |Nov low C = -1.6 |Dec low C = -7.0 |year low C = 5.7 |Jan record low C = -37.9 |Feb record low C = -37.4 |Mar record low C = -32.3 |Apr record low C = -12.3 |May record low C = -2.3 |Jun record low C = 2.3 |Jul record low C = 8.1 |Aug record low C = 4.8 |Sep record low C = -5.7 |Oct record low C = -15.7 |Nov record low C = -29.8 |Dec record low C = -35.8 |year record low C = -37.9 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 16.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 12.0 |Mar precipitation mm = 15.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 16.6 |May precipitation mm = 27.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 16.9 |Jul precipitation mm = 11.6 |Aug precipitation mm = 9.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 9.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 18.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 16.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 15.8 |year precipitation mm = 185.3 | unit precipitation days = 1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 4.4 | Feb precipitation days = 2.9 | Mar precipitation days = 3.2 | Apr precipitation days = 3.8 | May precipitation days = 3.9 | Jun precipitation days = 3.0 | Jul precipitation days = 2.3 | Aug precipitation days = 1.5 | Sep precipitation days = 2.0 | Oct precipitation days = 3.2 | Nov precipitation days = 3.9 | Dec precipitation days = 4.3 | year precipitation days = 38.4 |Jan snow depth cm = 3 |Feb snow depth cm = 6 |Mar snow depth cm = 2 |Apr snow depth cm = 0 |May snow depth cm = 0 |Jun snow depth cm = 0 |Jul snow depth cm = 0 |Aug snow depth cm = 0 |Sep snow depth cm = 0 |Oct snow depth cm = 0 |Nov snow depth cm = 1 |Dec snow depth cm = 2 |year snow depth cm = 6 |Jan humidity = 84 |Feb humidity = 80 |Mar humidity = 74 |Apr humidity = 58 |May humidity = 50 |Jun humidity = 45 |Jul humidity = 45 |Aug humidity = 46 |Sep humidity = 52 |Oct humidity = 64 |Nov humidity = 80 |Dec humidity = 84 |year humidity = 64 |Jan rain days = 4 |Feb rain days = 4 |Mar rain days = 6 |Apr rain days = 8 |May rain days = 9 |Jun rain days = 7 |Jul rain days = 6 |Aug rain days = 5 |Sep rain days = 5 |Oct rain days = 8 |Nov rain days = 10 |Dec rain days = 6 |year rain days = 78 |Jan snow days = 14 |Feb snow days = 11 |Mar snow days = 7 |Apr snow days = 1 |May snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 1 |Nov snow days = 5 |Dec snow days = 11 |year snow days = 50 |Jan sun = 98 |Feb sun = 138 |Mar sun = 167 |Apr sun = 245 |May sun = 311 |Jun sun = 330 |Jul sun = 343 |Aug sun = 323 |Sep sun = 267 |Oct sun = 196 |Nov sun = 105 |Dec sun = 75 |year sun = 2598 |Jand sun = 3.2 |Febd sun = 4.9 |Mard sun = 5.4 |Aprd sun = 8.2 |Mayd sun = 10.0 |Jund sun = 11.0 |Juld sun = 11.1 |Augd sun = 10.4 |Sepd sun = 8.9 |Octd sun = 6.3 |Novd sun = 3.5 |Decd sun = 2.4 |yeard sun = 7.1 |source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net |source 2 = NOAA (sun, 1961–1990), | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG_II/KS/35700.TXT | title = Atyrary (Atyrau) Climate Normals 1961–1990 | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 13 May 2015}} Deutscher Wetterdienst (daily sun 1961-1990) | url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_357000_kt.pdf | title = Klimatafel von Atyrau (Gurjew) / Kasachstan | publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure | access-date = September 17, 2016}}

Industry

Oil industry

The third biggest refinery in Kazakhstan is located in Atyrau. Atyrau Refinery is operated by KazMunayGas and has a capacity of 16,600 m3/day (2012). A deep oil refining complex is under construction which is the final stage of complete reconstruction of Atyrau Oil Refinery. This project is designed to process 2.4 million tons/year of raw materials (oil and vacuum gas oil). The project will increase the depth of the oil processing at the refinery by 2016 to 85%. The volume of oil refining will reach 5.5 million tons per year.

Atyrau is located near Tengiz field, which is operated in part by Chevron. Most families of Chevron employees live in Dostyk village, a compound that includes housing, recreational facilities, and an international school. Atyrau also has expatriate populations working for Agip, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and ConocoPhillips.

Environmental problems

As a result of the oil industry, the air in the city is polluted with toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. The air in the city was found to regularly exceed the maximum permissible concentration and constantly had a 'rotten eggs' smell.

Education

There are three major institutions of higher education in Atyrau (all state-owned): Atyrau Institute of Engineering and Humanities, Atyrau University of Oil and Gas named after Safi Utebayev, and Atyrau University named after Khalel Dosmukhamedov.

Sports

The city is home to the basketball team BC Barsy Atyrau. The team competes in the international FIBA Asia Champions Cup and the Kazakhstan Basketball Championship. It plays its home games at the Sports and Recreation complex Atyrau. There is a multi-use stadium called Munaishy Stadium, which is mostly used for football matches and it is home to the football club FC Atyrau. The stadium's capacity is 8,900 spectators.

Transportation

Air

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Atma_Atyrau_Airport.jpg" caption="Entrance to the Atyrau Airport"] ::

Atyrau Airport serves the city of Atyrau. The airport is located 8 km northwest of Atyrau. The airport hosts 6 airlines, mostly operating domestic flights, and is the focus city of the flag carrier airline Air Astana. In 2019, it was the 5th busiest airport in Kazakhstan, as 937,032 people had passed the airport in that year. There are some international destinations, such as flights to Moscow, operated by Aeroflot, Amsterdam and Istanbul, both operated by Air Astana.

Railway

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Atyrau_railway_station.jpg" caption="Train from Moscow to Almaty staying at the Atyrau Railway Station"] ::

There is a railway station, located northeast of Atyrau. There are mainly domestic routes, such as routes to large cities Almaty, Aktobe and Astana, but there's also international routes, such as a route to Russian cities Astrakhan, Saratov, Moscow, Volgograd and Tajikistani cities Kulob, Khujand, Dushanbe and Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent.

International relations

Twin towns

Atyrau is twinned with:

Notable people

Arts, literature, and entertainment

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Timur_Bekmambetov_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg" caption="[[Timur Bekmambetov]], 2012"] ::

Bridges of Atyrau

On August 28, 1965, the first real reinforced concrete bridge in the city, passing through the Ural River, was built and put into operation. The bridge is 259 m long and 10 m high. The bridge connects Satpayev Avenue and Abay Street. On the right European coast on Satpayev Avenue, the akimat (mayor's office) of the city and akimat (governor) of the Atyrau region adjoin the bridge.

In 2001, a unique pedestrian suspension bridge was built. The 551 m bridge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. From the middle of the bridge over the Urals there are views of Azattyk Avenue and its surroundings.

In 2009, the Sultan Beibars was opened – a four-lane bridge with a throughput capacity of 5–7 thousand cars a day, 800 m long with access roads, 380.74 m long and 22 m wide. The width of the roadway is 16 m, plus two walking paths of 2.5 m each.

References

References

  1. (2023-07-10). "Назначен аким Атырау".
  2. "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab".
  3. DOSM. "Department of Statistics Kazakhstan".
  4. "Atyrau".
  5. "pogoda.ru.net Погода и Климат".
  6. {{usurped
  7. (15 August 2012). "Japanese Banks Provide $297.5 million Loan to Atyrau Oil Refinery". Satrapia.
  8. "Kazakhstan".
  9. "DAIS {{!}} Touching Hearts Strengthening Minds".
  10. "General Information".
  11. Ryskalieva, Damilya. (2023-07-31). "Environmental Assessment of the Impact of Atmospheric Air Pollution with Hydrogen Sulfide on the Health of the Population of Atyrau, Republic of Kazakhstan". International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning.
  12. Yessenamanova, Mansiya. (2021-06-22). "Analysis of the Content of Hydrogen Sulfide in the Air of the City of Atyrau". International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning.
  13. "Как обновится стадион "Мунайшы" – Футбол".
  14. "Есть ли побратимы у Актау и других городов Казахстана".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

atyraupopulated-places-in-atyrau-regionural-oblast-(russian-empire)populated-places-established-in-1640populated-places-on-the-caspian-sea1640-establishments-in-russiacities-and-towns-in-kazakhstantranscontinental-citiesport-cities-and-towns-of-the-caspian-sea