Geography

Kurchum district is located in the eastern part of the territory of the region. The nature of the district is so diverse: there is the heat of Zaisan deserts, passes of Marble mountain, Azutau mountain range, taiga forests with permanent snow at tops of mountains. The lain parched by the sun occupies the one side of the district and the other one is represented by the mountains, virgin taiga with bears, elks, marals and sable. It is the edge of the defense lands, unique lakes, «critically endangered» animals of the Southern Altai. Defense lands are located in the Markakol cavity, with the Markakol Lake in the centre, surrounded by mountains of Kurchum mountain range and Azutau mountain range. The Markakol Lake is the largest mountain lake in the Republic. Geological - paleontological and geomorphological natural monuments “Kiin-Kerish” and “Pylayushie adyry” and the geological - paleobotanical natural monument “Ashutas” are located in Kurchum district.

History

Kurchum district is one of 19 territorial units of East Kazakhstan region. It is located in the eastern part of the region. The district was founded in 1927. Since 1997 has united the former separate districts as Markakol and Kurchum. The administrative centre is Kurchum settlement. It is situated 220 km far from the regional centre. As of October 1, 2017 Kurchum settlement totals 6938 people or 27,5% of the whole population of the district. The territory of the district covers 23,2 thousand sq.km. There are 12 rural districts or 49 settlements in the territory of Kurchum district. The district numbers 25,000 people. The ethnic composition by the beginning of 2017 as follows: the Kazakhs - 91,3 %, the Russians - 8,0 %, other nations - 0,7 %. 

Territory

The territory of the district covers 23,2 thousand sq.km.

The administrative centre of the district is Kurchum settlement.

There are 12 rural districts in the territory of Kurchum district.

Borders

The district borders on Katon-Karagai district in the north, on Kokpekty district in the west, on Tarbagatai district in the southwest, on Zaisan district in the south; - on the People's Republic of China in the east.

The distance from:

Kurchum settlement to Ust-Kamenogorsk city is 220 km;

to Semey city - 400 km;

to Astana city - 1250 km.

Population 

As of December 25, 2017 the district totals 25,191 people.

Infrastructure

The infrastructural complex of Kurchum district is presented by the following areas: electro-supply, water supply, road branch, water discharge, transport, telecommunication, mail service, improvement.

Education: the district has 43 schools, including 23 - secondary schools, 17 - basic schools, 3 primary schools, among which 37 schools with the official language of education, 6 - mixed. There are 4 kindergartens, 2 schools of the arts, one house of creativity and health-improving camp “Baldauren”.

Production

In Kurchum district in January-December, 2017 the volume of industrial output accounted for KZT3603,5 million per month and there is an increase in comparison with the corresponding period of the last year (in January-December, 2016 KZT3662,4 million per month), the index of actual volume made up 116,9 %. Including: in the processing industry the total amount made up KZT3170,6 million, this indicator in comparison with the corresponding period of the last year (in January-December, 2016 KZT3221 million), the index of actual volume made up 119,2%. The food production in the processing industry made up KZT2582,6 million, the index of actual volume in comparison with the corresponding period of the last year made up 70,9 %. The volume of the industrial output in 2017 accounted for KZT12 million 3603,5, there is an increase in comparison with the corresponding period of the last year (January-December, 2016 KZT3662,4 million per month), the index of actual volume made up 116,9 %.

Land resources

The lands of agricultural purposes - 342384 hectares

The lands of the industries - 3257 hectares

The lands of the stock - 1103695 hectares

Labour resources

As of January 1, 2018 it is created 722 jobs. 540 persons are directed to the public work, 39 persons to the youth practice, and 44 unemployed to social jobs. From the beginning of this year the number of officially registered unemployed made up 1336 persons, including 1256 persons are employed, that made up 94%.

Personnel potential

The Kurchum College in Terekty settlement prepares students in the following specialities:

A tractor operator - 53

An electrical engineer - 20

Catering services - 15

Hairdresser's art and decorative cosmetics - 20

Clothing manufacture and modelling - 14

.

Investment potential

In January-December, 2017 the district attracted investments in the fixed capital of the economy to the sum of KZT 2640,8 million. The index of actual volume accounted for 119,5 % in comparison with the corresponding period of the last year (KZT2076,4 million for 12 months 2016). 

It is planned to construct 2 mining enterprises with attraction of foreign investors in Kurchum district in 2018-2020. Also it intends to begin construction of the bridge across Bukhtarma Reservoir. Besides, attraction of investments into the tourism sector of the district provides the stage-by-stage development plan. 

NEED FOR LABOUR RECOURSES

It has no deficit of labour resources

TOURIST POTENTIAL 

The geographical position of Kurchum district attracts tourists with its beauty nature and rich material resources.

Key places for development of tourist clusters in Kurchum district are:

• Buhtarma Reservoir
• The Irtysh River of the Zaisan Lake
• Markakol Lake

For further development tourist clusters it is necessary to construct 1 medical-health improving resort on the site of “Markakol tany” Ltd and 14 guest small houses on the sites of «Verhnyaya Elovka», “Guba”, “Kiyan Kerish” chosen for tourism development.

• Markakol Natural Reserve.

Markakol state natural reserve is organized on August 4, 1976 in the territory of Kurchum district of East Kazakhstan region with the purpose of preserving the unique Markakol Lake and landscapes surrounding it. The reserve covers 75 048 hectares, its significant part accounts for the water area of the Markakol Lake. The zone for sports and amateur fishery by the area of 1500 hectares is offered for realization of the recreational activity in the eastern part of the Lake water area.