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{{Infobox settlement
| name = Karaganda
| official_name = Karagandy
| native_name = Қарағанды {{kk icon}}
| native_name_lang = (kz)
| settlement_type = City
|image_skyline =AbdirovStatue.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Statue of [[Nurken Abdirov]] in Karaganda
|image_seal = Seal of Karaganda, Kazakhstan.png
|image_map =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Kazakhstan
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_mapsize = 280
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in Kazakhstan
|coordinates = {{coord|49|50|0|N|73|10|0|E|region:KZ|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[Kazakhstan]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Kazakhstan|Region]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Karaganda Region]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1931
|leader_title = Akim <small>([[mayor]])</small>
|leader_name = [[Nurlan Aubakirov]]
|area_total_km2 = 497.8
|elevation_m = 546
|population_total = 459,778
|population_as_of = 1 January 2010
|population_density_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = [[Postal code]]
| postal_code = 100000 - 100030
| area_code = +7 7212
| registration_plate = M and 09 (region)
| website = {{URL|http://karaganda-akimat.gov.kz/}}
|timezone = [[Almaty Time|ALMT]]
|utc_offset = +6
}}
'''Karaganda''' or '''Qaraghandy''' ({{lang-kz|'''Қарағанды'''/Qarağandı/قاراعاندى}} {{IPA-kz|qɑɾɑˈʁɑndə||Kk-karagandy.ogg}}), more commonly known by its Russian name '''Karaganda''' ({{lang-ru|''Караганда''}}, until 1993), is the capital of [[Karaganda Region]] in [[Kazakhstan]]. It is the fourth most populous city in Kazakhstan, behind [[Almaty]] (Alma-Ata), [[Astana]] and [[Shymkent]]. Population: {{Kz-census2009|459,778|punct=;}} {{Kz-census1999|436,864|punct=.}}

In 1940, up to 70% of the city's inhabitants were ethnic [[Germans]]. Most of the [[Germans of Kazakhstan|ethnic Germans]] were Soviet [[Volga German]]s who were collectively deported to [[Siberia]] and Kazakhstan on [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]]'s order when Hitler invaded [[Kresy|Soviet-annexed eastern Poland]] and the Soviet Union proper in 1941. Until the 1950s, many of these deportees were interned in labor camps, often simply because they were of German descent.

The population of Karaganda fell by 14% from 1989-1999 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; it was once Kazakhstan's second-largest city after Almaty. One hundred thousand people have since emigrated to [[Germany]]. There is also a concentration of [[Poles in Kazakhstan|ethnic Poles]] in the city.

This is the home city of Kazakh [[World War II]] hero [[Nurken Abdirov]]. A statue in Abdirov's honor is located in the center of the city.

Karaganda is located 200 km South-East from Kazakhstan's capital Astana.

== History ==
The name "Karaganda" is derived from "[[caragana]]" bushes (''[[Caragana arborescens]]'', ''Caragana frutex''), which are abundant in the area.

The original site of Karaganda is now labeled on [[city map]]s as the "Old Town", but almost nothing remains on that site. In exploiting the rich [[coal]] deposits of the area, the Soviets undermined the entire city. 

This area was abandoned. The city was relocated to the south, where it was rebuilt.

In the early 1990s, Karaganda was briefly considered as a candidate for the capital of the (then) newly independent Republic of Kazakhstan, but its bid was turned down in favour of [[Astana]].
=== EMP ===
[[File:Универсам Юбилейный.JPG|right|255px|thumb|Nurken Abdirov Street at the corner of Gogol Street.]]
Karagandy suffered the most severe [[Nuclear electromagnetic pulse|electromagnetic pulse]] effects ever observed when its electrical [[power plant]] was set on fire by currents induced in a {{convert|1000|km|abbr=on}} long shallow buried [[electric power transmission|power cable]] by Soviet Test ‘184’ on 22 October 1962. The test was part of the [[Soviet Project K nuclear tests]] ([[anti-ballistic missile|ABM System A]] proof tests), and consisted of a 300-[[kiloton]] [[high-altitude nuclear explosion]] at an altitude of {{convert|290|km|abbr=on}} over [[Zhezkazgan]].

Prompt [[gamma ray]]-produced EMP induced a current of 2,500 amps measured by [[spark gap]]s in a {{convert|570|km|abbr=on}} stretch of overhead telephone line to Zharyq, blowing all the [[fuse (electrical)|protective fuses]]. The late-time [[Magnetohydrodynamics|MHD]]-EMP was of low enough frequency to enable it to penetrate {{convert|90|cm|abbr=on}} into the ground, overloading a shallow buried lead and steel tape-protected {{convert|1000|km|abbr=on}} long power cable between [[Astana|Aqmola]] (now called Astana) and [[Almaty]]. It fired [[circuit breaker]]s and set the Karaganda power plant on fire.<ref>http://glasstone.blogspot.com/2006/03/emp-radiation-from-nuclear-space.html</ref>

==Climate==

Karaganda has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfb'') with warm summers and very cold winters. Precipitation is moderately low throughout the year, although slightly heavier from May to July. Snow is frequent, though light, in winter. The lowest temperature on record is {{convert|-42.9|°C|°F}}, recorded in 1938, and the highest temperature is {{convert|40.2|°C|°F}}, recorded in 2002.<ref name="pogoda" />

<div style="width:82%;">
{{Weather box
|location = Karaganda
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 6.2
|Feb record high C = 7.0
|Mar record high C = 22.3
|Apr record high C = 30.6
|May record high C = 35.6
|Jun record high C = 39.1
|Jul record high C = 39.6
|Aug record high C = 40.2
|Sep record high C = 37.4
|Oct record high C = 27.6
|Nov record high C = 18.9
|Dec record high C = 11.5
|year record high C = 40.2
|Jan high C = -8.7
|Feb high C = -7.7
|Mar high C = -1.4
|Apr high C = 12.0
|May high C = 20.1
|Jun high C = 25.6
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 25.4
|Sep high C = 19.2
|Oct high C = 10.5
|Nov high C = -0.2
|Dec high C = -6.8
|year high C = 9.6
|Jan mean C = -12.9
|Feb mean C = -12.7
|Mar mean C = -6.2
|Apr mean C = 5.6
|May mean C = 13.3
|Jun mean C = 18.9
|Jul mean C = 20.4
|Aug mean C = 18.6
|Sep mean C = 12.2
|Oct mean C = 4.4
|Nov mean C = -4.8
|Dec mean C = -11.0
|year mean C = 3.8
|Jan low C = -17.1
|Feb low C = -17.2
|Mar low C = -10.4
|Apr low C = 0.1
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 12.3
|Jul low C = 14.3
|Aug low C = 12.3
|Sep low C = 6.1
|Oct low C = -0.3
|Nov low C = -8.6
|Dec low C = -15.1
|year low C = -1.4
|Jan record low C = −41.7
|Feb record low C = -41.0
|Mar record low C = −34.7
|Apr record low C = -24.0
|May record low C = -9.5
|Jun record low C = -2.3
|Jul record low C = 1.7
|Aug record low C = -0.8
|Sep record low C = -7.4
|Oct record low C = -19.3
|Nov record low C = −38.0
|Dec record low C = −42.9
|year record low C = -42.9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 24
|Feb precipitation mm = 22
|Mar precipitation mm = 22
|Apr precipitation mm = 26
|May precipitation mm = 41
|Jun precipitation mm = 36
|Jul precipitation mm = 47
|Aug precipitation mm = 28
|Sep precipitation mm = 21
|Oct precipitation mm = 28
|Nov precipitation mm = 31
|Dec precipitation mm = 26
|year precipitation mm = 352
|Jan rain days = 1
|Feb rain days = 1
|Mar rain days = 4
|Apr rain days = 9
|May rain days = 14
|Jun rain days = 12
|Jul rain days = 14
|Aug rain days = 10
|Sep rain days = 9
|Oct rain days = 9
|Nov rain days = 6
|Dec rain days = 2
|year rain days = 91
|Jan snow days = 20
|Feb snow days = 19
|Mar snow days = 15
|Apr snow days = 6
|May snow days = 1
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 1
|Oct snow days = 7
|Nov snow days = 15
|Dec snow days = 19
|year snow days = 103
|Jan humidity = 79
|Feb humidity = 78
|Mar humidity = 78
|Apr humidity = 61
|May humidity = 54
|Jun humidity = 50
|Jul humidity = 55
|Aug humidity = 52
|Sep humidity = 53
|Oct humidity = 66
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 78
|year humidity = 65
|Jan sun = 106
|Feb sun = 142
|Mar sun = 189
|Apr sun = 231
|May sun = 297
|Jun sun = 335
|Jul sun = 330
|Aug sun = 303
|Sep sun = 247
|Oct sun = 141
|Nov sun = 108
|Dec sun = 99
|year sun = 2528
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name="pogoda">{{cite web
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20161125141409/http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/35394.htm
| archivedate = 25 November 2016
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/35394.htm
| title = Weather and Climate - The Climate of Karaganda
| accessdate = 25 November 2016
| publisher = Weather and Climate (Погода и климат)
| language = Russian}}</ref>
|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/35394.TXT
| title = Karaganda Climate Normals 1961-1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = 25 November 2016}}</ref>
|date=September 2013}}

</div>

== Industry ==
Karaganda is an industrial city, built to exploit nearby [[coal mine]]s using the slave work of prisoners of [[Labor camp|labour camps]]. Flora Leipman, a British{{discuss}} citizen, spent several years unlawfully detained in a number of other nearby camps, and described her experiences in the book "The Long Journey Home" (published 1987). Commercial extraction of coal continues to be an important activity in the region even today.

Since local water resources are not sufficient for the needs of a major industrial city, the [[Irtysh–Karaganda Canal]] was constructed in the 1960s, to supply the Karaganda metropolitan area with water from the [[Irtysh River]] more than 400 km away.

== Culture ==

=== Theater ===
The [[:ru:Дворец культуры горняков (Караганда)|Miners Palace of Culture]] is a major landmark in Karagandy.

=== Sports ===
[[FC Shakhter Karagandy]] is a football club based in [[Shakhtyor Stadium (Karagandy)|Shakhtyor Stadium]]. They are the current champions of the [[Kazakhstan Premier League]]. The local football club has its own heroes and big accomplishments. The most popular player in the team is Andrey Finonchenko. The biggest accomplishment is a victory against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] from Scotland. The score was 2-0. The city sent a [[bandy]] team to the [[Spartakiade]] 2009.<ref>http://akghaik.ucoz.ru/photo/9-1-0-0-2</ref>{{FV|date=September 2013}} [[Saryarka Karagandy]] is an ice hockey team that plays in the Russian-based [[Supreme Hockey League]] (VHL) The popularity of winter sports is growing each year and multi-sports winter games are organised for the [[Karaganda Region]].<ref>[http://caspionet.kz/eng/sport/Winter_Sports_Tournaments_begin_in_Karaganda_1328938863.html Winter Sports Tournaments begin in Karaganda]</ref>

=== Other ===
* [[Karagandy Zoo]]

=== Education ===
* [[Karaganda State University]]
* [[Qaraghandy State Medical University|Karaganda State Medical University]]

=== Religion ===
The city is the seat of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Karaganda]].

=== Other ===

Karagandy was often used as the punchline in a popular joke in the former [[Soviet Union]]. Karagandy is fairly isolated in a vast area of uninhabited [[steppe]], and is thought by many to be "the middle of nowhere". When used in the [[locative case]] (Караганде), the final syllable rhymes with the Russian word for "where" (где), as well as with a Russian obscenity used to answer to an unwanted question "Where?". Thus the exchange: "Где?" — "В Караганде!" ("Where is it?" — "In Karagandy!")

== Transport ==
[[Sary-Arka Airport]] is located 20 kilometers south-east of the city.

== Notable residents ==
* [[Nurken Abdirov]], Soviet [[World War II]] pilot and [[Hero of the Soviet Union]]
* [[Anjelika Akbar]], pianist
* [[Toktar Aubakirov]], former [[cosmonaut]] ([[Soyuz TM-13]]) and member of Kazakhstan parliament
* [[Boris Avrukh]], chess [[Grandmaster (chess)|grandmaster]]
* [[Sahan Dosova]], [[super-centenarian]], reputed to have lived to age 130 (though disputed)
* [[Konstantin Engel]], professional football player
*[[Gennady Golovkin]], boxer, current [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] and [[International Boxing Organization|IBO]] Middleweight Champion, holds the greatest knockout ratio in middleweight championship history and silver medalist in the ([[2004 Summer Olympics]])
* [[Akhmad Kadyrov]], former President of the [[Chechen Republic]]
* [[Dimitri Kotschnew]], professional ice hockey player
* [[Andrei Krukov]], Olympic figure skater ([[1998 Winter Olympics]])
* [[Juri Litvinov]], Olympic figure skater (1998 Winter Olympics) and national champion
* [[Aslan Maskhadov]], third President, [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria]]
* [[Valery Oisteanu]], writer, photographer, and performance artist
* [[Aleksandr Shustov]], gold medal-winning high jumper
* [[Dmitriy Karpov]], bronze medal-winning decathlon and heptathlon athlete ([[2004 Summer Olympics]])
* [[Aleksei Grigorievich Stakhanov]], Director of Number 31 mine (1943-1957) and [[Hero of the Soviet Union]] as a folk hero mine worker with 14 times quota production
* [[Pavel Vorobiev]], professional ice hockey player
* [[Joseph Werth]], Bishop of Transfiguration, [[Novosibirsk, Russia]]
* Katia Ivanova, glamour model, reality TV star, UK Celebrity Big Brother contestant 2009 (born in Karaganda in 1988)

== Sister cities ==
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Songpa-gu]], [[South Korea]] (since 1994)
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Kamianske]], [[Ukraine]]
* {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Arak, Iran|Arak]], [[Iran]] (since 2008)

== See also ==

*[[Karlag]]
*[[Karaganda Region]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Karaganda}}
* [http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ahr/106.1/ah000017.html Kate Brown, Gridded Lives: Why Kazakhstan and Montana are nearly the same place]
* [http://www.karagandy.aero/ www.karagandy.aero] Karagandy International Airport
* [http://www.world66.com/asia/centralasia/kazakhstan/karagandy www.world66.com] Karagandy Travel Guide
* [http://visitkazakhstan.kz/en/guide/places/view/568/ visitkazakhstan.kz] Monuments of Karagandy
* [http://www.worldplaces.net/kgz/00/karagandy/ www.worldplaces.net/kgz/00/karagandy/ ]
* [http://kazakhstan.usembassy.gov/media-032612.html usembassy.gov] Media Advisory: Karagandy Eco-Museum and Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation Project Opening
* [http://www.accuweather.com/en/kz/karagandy/222471/weather-forecast/222471 www.accuweather.com] Karagandy Weather Forecast
* [http://www.forecast.co.uk/karagandy.html forecast.co.uk] Karagandy Weather Forecast
* [http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Karagandy/forecasts/latest weather-forecast.com] Karagandy Weather Forecast
* [http://www.gismeteo.com/city/daily/14400/ gismeteo.com] Karagandy Weather Forecast

{{Karaganda Region}}
{{Cities of Kazakhstan}}

[[Category:Karaganda| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Karaganda Region]]
[[Category:Cities in Central Asia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1931]]
[[Category:1931 establishments in the Soviet Union]]

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