Kazakhstan National Things

 

This week we are wrapping up Kazakhstan with these facts.

The national animal of Kazakhstan is the golden eagle. It's a powerful symbol of the country, representing strength, independence, and freedom, and it also appears on the national flag.

The national flower of Kazakhstan is the lily. Specifically, it's the Lilium genus, though a specific variety isn't officially designated. Lilies are recognized as a symbol of purity, grace, and renewal in Kazakhstan. 

The national tree of Kazakhstan is the Schrenk's Spruce, this majestic evergreen is native to the mountainous regions of Kazakhstan and symbolizes resilience and endurance. 

The national dish of Kazakhstan is beshbarmak. It's a hearty dish consisting of boiled meat (traditionally horse or mutton, but also beef) served over wide, flat noodles, often with a flavourful broth and onions. The name "beshbarmak" translates to "five fingers" from the Turkic languages, referring to the traditional way it's eaten with your hands. 

When it came to finding the most popular sport, I received two different answers football and kokpar, so I looked a bit more and it seems that football is the most popular sport overall, while Kokpar is the most popular traditional Kazakh game.

 

So, it seems that football dominates as the most-watched and participated-in sport in the country, but Kokpar holds a special place as a key part of Kazakh national identity and is widely played during celebrations like Nauruz. 

Now you may be wondering what the hell Kokpar is well it's a traditional equestrian sport, similar to polo but using a goat carcass instead of a ball. 

Kazakhstan offers a relatively low cost of living compared to many Western countries, with living expenses significantly lower than in Australia or America but do are wages. The minimum wage is 531.25KZT per hour which is around $1.09 USD or $1.55AUD. America’s minimum wage is between $7.25 and $15.00. In Australia it is $24.10 per hour.