Kazakhs love rhythmic gymnastics and cycling – a local boy, Alexander Vinokourov, came third in the 2003 Tour de France.8 The main export is oil The aim is to be in the world’s top five exporters.9. The government discussed whether to legalise polygamy in 2000 but, despite a lot of support, the practice remains common but illegal.10. Traditional beshbarmak consists of boiled horseflesh on big noodles.11. The official language is Kazakh, but most people also speak Russian.12. President Nazarbayev is lining up his daughter, Dariga, to succeed him She is an opera singer A mezzo soprano to be precise.13. Borat’s sister is a prostitute – “maybe second or third in whole of Kazakhstan” She is not alone.

The country features in an official American report as one of 15 countries that has not done enough to combat people-trafficking.14 There are 600,000 registered drug addicts in the country.15. Kazakhstan is the only central Asian country that exports oil to China – and the Chinese have built a 1000km pipeline to ensure this continues.16 Kazakhs excel at boxing. They won two golds and two silvers in the sport at the 2000 Olympics, while in 2004, Bakhtiyar Artayev won gold and was named best boxer of the Games.17. Local inns are likely to sell two types of traditional tipple: fermented camel’s milk (kumyran), or fermented mare’s milk (kumiss).18.

The capital moved from Almaty to the purpose-built city of Astana in 1998. Almaty comes from the old name “Alma-Ata”, meaning “Father of Apples”, after the wild apples that grow in the area.19. The largest outdoor ice rink in the world is at Medeo, outside Almaty.20 There are six Kazakhs for every square kilometre.21. In the Almaty Zelenniy Bazaar, a kilo of caviar costs around £170, although local mafia interests can secure the luxury for well under this price.22.

Kazakhstan has had a glittering Hollywood career, starring with Harrison Ford in Air Force One, with Pierce Brosnan in The World is not Enough and Jean Reno in Rollerball.23. The words of the Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan are as follows:”We are a valiant people, sons of honour,And all we’ve sacrificed to gain our freedom.Emerging from malicious grip of fate, from hell of fire,We scored a victory of glory and successSoar high up in the sky, oh, eagle of freedom,Call up to harmony, agreement and accord!For hero’s might and strength is in the nation,Just as the unity is nation’s razing sword.While honouring our mothers and respectingThe cream of cream of our rising nationWe welcomed all ill-starred and struck by ruin …Our homeland, the steppe, a sacred cradleOf friendship and accordGave all a shelter and a hearty refugeWe’ve overcome the hardshipsLet the past serve bitter lessonBut ahead we face a radiant future.We bequeath our sacred legacy implying our mother tongueAnd sovereignty and valour and traditionsSo dearly cherished by our forefathersAs true mandate to future generations.”24. The national football team are 140th in the Fifa world rankings, out of 205. Their first World Cup was in 1998, when they were placed in the Asian group. Kazakhstan protested, and were moved to Uefa, the European governing body.25 Around 1,500 Kazakhs live in Britain.26. The population of Caspian Sea sturgeon, from whose roe Beluga caviar is made, is plummeting.