AKMOLINSK  , one of the governments belonging to the

governor-generalship of the Steppes in Asiatic Russia, formerly known as the Kirghiz Steppe; bounded by the government of Turgai on the W., by that of Tobolsk on the N., of Semi-palatinsk on the E., and of Syr-darya on the S . Area 229,544 sq. m., of which 4535 are lakes . In the north the government is low and dotted with salt lakes, and is sandy on the banks of the Irtysh in the north-east . An undulating plateau stretches through the middle, watered by the Ishim and its tributary the Nura . The plains gradually rise southwards, where a broad spur of the Tarbagatai mountains stretches north-westwards, containing gold, copper and coal . Many lakes, of which the largest is Teniz, are scattered along the northern slope of these hills . Farther south, towards Lake Balkash, on the south-eastern frontier, is a wide waterless desert, Bek-pak-dala, or Famine Steppe . This section of the government is drained by the Sary-su and Chu, the latter on the southern boundary-line . The climate is continental and dry, the average temperatures at the town of Akmolinsk being for the year 350, January 1'5°, July 70°; rainfall, only 9 in . The population, which was 686,863 in 1897 (324,587 women), consists chiefly of Russians in the northern and middle portions, and of Kirghiz (about 350,000), who breed cattle, horses and sheep . The urban population was only 74,069 . Agriculture is successfully carried on in the north, the Siberian railway running between Petropavlovsk and Omsk through a very fertile, well-populated region .

Steamers ply on the Irtysh . The government is divided into five districts, the

chief towns of which are: Omsk (pop . 53,050 in 1900), formerly capital of West Siberia, now capital of this government and also of the governor-generalship of the Steppes; Akmolinsk, or Akmolly (956o in 1897), On the Ishim, 26o m . S.S.W. of Omsk, and chief centre for the caravans coming from Tashkent and Bokhara; Atbasar (3030); Kokchetav (5000); and Petropavlovsk (21,769 in 1901) .