Temirtau, (up to 1945 settlements Samarkand). The city located nearby to Karaganda, on coast Samarkand water basin in Kazakhstan. Railway station. 213,1 thousand inhabitants (1991). The Quaraghandy metallurgical combine (nowadays Mittal Steel Temirtau). Chemical manufacture "Carbide"; factories: synthetic rubber, steel-mechanical; the enterprises of the food-processing industry, building materials. Theatre. In this city there began the career the president of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbaev, former vice-premier of Russia O.Soskovets, the former general public prosecutor of Russia A.Kazannik and many other politicians.