View source for Atyrau

{{distinguish|Atreyu}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name = Atyrau
 | native_name = Атырау
 | settlement_type = City
 | image_skyline = Atyrau Collage.png
 | imagesize = 340px
 | image_caption = '''Clockwise from top:''' Central Bridge which connects Europe and Asia during the evening; Stand marking the European side of the city; Orthodox Church; Isatay and Makhambet Monument; Manjali Mosque; [[Ural River]] at night; Pedestrian Bridge over the [[Ural River]].
 | image_flag = 
 | image_seal = Coat of arms of Atyrau.svg
 | image_map = 
 | map_caption = 
 |pushpin_map            = Kazakhstan
 |pushpin_label_position =bottom
 |pushpin_mapsize        = 280
 |pushpin_map_caption    =Location in Kazakhstan
 |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
 |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Kazakhstan|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 <small>([[mayor]])</small>
 | leader_name = [[Nurlybek Ozhaev]]
 (Нұрлыбек Ожаев)
 | 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= 2012
 | population_footnotes =
 | population_total = 163221
 | population_urban = 
 | population_metro = 221585
 | population_density_sq_mi = 
 | population_density_km2 = auto
 | timezone = [[UTC+5]]
 | utc_offset = +5
 | timezone_DST =
 | utc_offset_DST = 
 | coordinates      = {{coord|47|07|0|N|51|53|0|E|region:KZ|display=inline}}
 | elevation_footnotes=
 | elevation_m = -20
 | elevation_ft = 
 | postal_code_type = [[Postal code]]
 | postal_code = 060001 - 060011
 | area_code = (+7) 7122
 | registration_plate = E, 06
 | website = {{URL|http://atyrau.gov.kz/index.php/en/|}}
 | footnotes =
 }}
'''Atyrau''' ({{lang-kk|Атырау, ''Atıraw''}}, اتىراۋ, {{IPA-kk|ɑtərɑ́w|pron}}; {{lang-ru|Атырау}} {{IPA-ru|ɐtɨˈraʊ|}}), known as '''Guryev''' ({{lang-ru|Гурьев}} {{IPA-ru|ˈɡurʲjɪf|}}) until 1991, is a city in [[Kazakhstan]], and the capital of [[Atyrau Region]]. It is located at the mouth of the [[Ural River]] on the [[Caspian Sea]], {{convert|2,700|km|mi|abbr=off}} west of [[Almaty]] and {{convert|351|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of the [[Russia]]n city of [[Astrakhan]].

Modern Atyrau is famous for its oil and fish industries. It has 154,100 inhabitants (2007), up from 142,500 (1999 census), 90% ethnic [[Kazakhs]] (up from 80%), the rest being mostly [[Russians]] and other ethnic groups such as [[Tatars]] and [[Ukrainians]].

==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 ''Atıraw'' means '[[river delta]]'.

==Geography==
Atyrau (together with [[Aktau]]) is Kazakhstan's main [[port|harbour city]] on the [[Caspian Sea]], Atyrau at the [[river delta|delta]] of the [[Ural River]]. Atyrau city is approximately {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=off}} [[above sea level|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 [[petroleum|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, Russia|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]].

==Climate==

Atyrau's climate is [[semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSk''), just shy of being classified as [[Desert climate|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 {{convert|-37.9|°C|°F}}, recorded in 1909, and the highest temperature is {{convert|42.7|°C|°F}}, recorded in 1984.<ref name="pogoda">{{cite web
  |url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/35700.htm
  |title = pogoda.ru.net Погода и Климат
  |accessdate = January 10, 2012}}</ref> It is much more continental than areas further west on the European continent, with summers characterized by temperatures averaging {{convert|33|C|F}} and lack of precipitation, resembling continental hot-summer [[mediterranean climate|mediterranean]] climates, and [[subarctic climate|subarctic]] winters with little snow but with chilling temperatures. These vast temperature swings are more comparable to [[Siberia]] and the [[North America]]n plains.

{{Weather box
|location = Atyrau
|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 = 32.5
|May record high C = 38.0
|Jun record high C = 41.9
|Jul record high C = 42.7
|Aug record high C = 41.9
|Sep record high C = 40.1
|Oct record high C = 29.6
|Nov record high C = 19.9
|Dec record high C = 11.8
|year record high C = 42.7
|Jan high C = -2.8
|Feb high C = -1.8
|Mar high C = 5.8
|Apr high C = 17.2
|May high C = 24.5
|Jun high C = 30.8
|Jul high C = 33.4
|Aug high C = 31.6
|Sep high C = 24.6
|Oct high C = 15.3
|Nov high C = 5.1
|Dec high C = -1.1
|year high C = 15.2
|Jan mean C = -6.4
|Feb mean C = -6.3
|Mar mean C = 0.8
|Apr mean C = 11.2
|May mean C = 18.4
|Jun mean C = 24.5
|Jul mean C = 26.8
|Aug mean C = 24.8
|Sep mean C = 18.0
|Oct mean C = 9.7
|Nov mean C = 1.3
|Dec mean C = -4.3
|year mean C = 9.9
|Jan low C = -9.4
|Feb low C = -9.9
|Mar low C = -3.1
|Apr low C = 6.1
|May low C = 12.8
|Jun low C = 18.4
|Jul low C = 20.5
|Aug low C = 18.5
|Sep low C = 12.3
|Oct low C = 5.0
|Nov low C = -1.7
|Dec low C = -7.0
|year low C = 5.2
|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 = 14
|Feb precipitation mm = 12
|Mar precipitation mm = 15
|Apr precipitation mm = 16
|May precipitation mm = 23
|Jun precipitation mm = 18
|Jul precipitation mm = 10
|Aug precipitation mm = 12
|Sep precipitation mm = 8
|Oct precipitation mm = 16
|Nov precipitation mm = 18
|Dec precipitation mm = 14
|year precipitation mm = 176
|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
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name="pogoda" />
|source 2 = NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/KS/35700.TXT
| title = Atyrary (Atyrau) Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = 13 May 2015}}</ref>
|date=November 2011
}}

==Industry==

===Oil industry===
The third biggest refinery in Kazakhstan is located in Atyrau.<ref>[http://kazworld.info/?p=58130 Company Overview of Atyrau Refinery LLP]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japanese Banks Provide $297.5 million Loan to Atyrau Oil Refinery|url=http://www.satrapia.com/news/article/japanese-banks-provide-2975-million-loan-to-atyrau-oil-refinery/|newspaper=The Gazette of Central Asia|date=15 August 2012|publisher=Satrapia}}</ref>

Atyrau is located near [[Tengiz Field|Tengiz field]], which is operated in part by [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chevron.com/worldwide/kazakhstan|title=Kazakhstan|last=Affairs|first=Chevron Policy, Government and Public|website=chevron.com|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref> Most families of Chevron employees live in Dostyk village, a compound that includes housing, recreational facilities, and an [[international school]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.daiskz.org|title=DAIS {{!}} Touching Hearts Strengthening Minds|website=www.daiskz.org|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref> Atyrau also has expatriate populations working for [[Agip]], [[ExxonMobil]], [[Royal Dutch Shell]], and [[ConocoPhillips]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atyrau.globaloutpostservices.com/about/general-information.dot|title=General Information|website=atyrau.globaloutpostservices.com|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref>

==Sports==
The city is home to the basketball team [[BC Barsy Atyrau]], the country's reigning basketball champion. 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''.

==International relations==
{{see also|List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Asia#Kazakhstan|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Kazakhstan}}

===Twin towns — Sister cities===
Atyrau  is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

* {{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Aktau]], [[Kazakhstan]]  
* {{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Oral, Kazakhstan|Oral]], [[Kazakhstan]]  
* {{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Aktobe]], [[Kazakhstan]]  
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Astrakhan]], [[Russia]]  
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Syktyvkar]], [[Russia]]  
* {{flagicon|ISR}} [[Ashdod]], [[Israel]]

==See also==
* [[Beibarys Atyrau]]
* [[Tengiz Field]]
* [[FC Atyrau|Atyrau Football Club]]
* [[Atyrau Airport]]
* [[Radio Tandem (Kazakhstan)|Radio Tandem]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Atyrau}}
{{Commons category|Atyrau}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141007025029/http://atyrau.gov.kz/index.php/en/ City administration website]
*[http://www.kazakhstanlive.com/ Information site on Kazakhstan]
*[http://ingvarr.net.ru/photo/140 Photos Atyrau] {{ru icon}}

{{Atyrau Region}}
{{Cities of Kazakhstan}}
{{coord|47|07|N|51|53|E|region:KZ_type:city|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Atyrau Region]]
[[Category:Ural Oblast (Russian Empire)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1640]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:1640 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:Atyrau]]