Balkhash (Russian: Балхаш, IPA: [bɐɫˈxaʂ]) or Balqash (/bɑːlˈkɑːʃ/, UK also /bælˈkæʃ/; Kazakh: Balqaş / Балқаш [bɑʟ̠ˈqɑʃ]) is a city in Kazakhstan, located on the northern shore of Lake Balkhash, on the Bay Bertys, and in the south of the Kazakh Uplands.

[2] Balkhash was founded in 1937 as an industrial city centred on the mining and smelting of copper, which is still being exploited in the area.

The city lies approximately 500 km west of the Chinese border, on the north side of the lake at an altitude of 440 m. On 11 April 1937, a small workers' settlement "Pribalhashstroy", designed in connection with the construction of a copper factory - BGMC, was transformed into the city of Balkhash by decision of the Central Executive Committee of the Kazakh SSR.

Some people cooked on fires in their yards; in winter they heated their apartments with potbelly stoves.

Summer cottages served as an additional source of foodstuffs, contributing to the populace's survival.

The ethnic composition on 1 January 2010 was:[4] In recent years, the number of Russian speakers is dramatically declining, but this is more than compensated by an influx of Kazakhs, who come mostly from rural areas, resulting in growth of the city's population after the substantial decline in the 1990s.

Prior to the appointment, he headed the Department of economy, " - said the press Secretary of the akim of the region Marina Shapovalova on Facebook.