Jambyl or Zhambyl Region (; ), formerly known as Dzhambul Region () until 1991, is a region of Kazakhstan. Its capital is Taraz. The population of the region is 1,209,665; the city is 335,100. The region borders Kyrgyzstan, and is very near to Uzbekistan (all to the south). Jambyl also borders three other provinces: Karaganda Region (to the north), Turkistan Region (to the west) and Almaty Region (to the east). The total area is . The province borders Lake Balkhash to its northeast. The province (and its capital during the Soviet era) was named after the Kazakh akyn (folk singer) Jambyl Jabayev. History The Dzhambul Region was formed by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on October 14, 1939 and included nine districts, of which six were separated from the South Kazakhstan and three from the Alma-Ata region. Arys ammunition explosion In August 2021, nine people were killed in a major explosion in at a Kazakhstani ammunition depot at a military unit in Taraz in the Jambyl Region of Kazakhstan. As a result, Minister of Defense Nurlan Yermekbayev announced his intent to resign on 27 August 2021. Four days later his resignation was accepted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with Yermekbayev accepting responsibility for the tragedy, and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Murat Bektanov. The leaders of foreign countries and international organizations delivered condolences and all government websites were grayscaled in memoriam. Demographics As of 2020, the Jambyl Region has a population of 1,130,099. Ethnic groups (2020): Kazakh: 72.81% Russian: 9.60% Dungan: 5.29% Turkish: 3.07% Uzbek: 2.54% Others: 6.69% Administrative divisions The province is administratively divided into ten districts and the city of Taraz. Bayzak District, with the administrative center in the auyl of Sarykemer; Jambyl District, the auyl of Asy; Korday District, the auyl of Korday; Merki District, the auyl of Merki; Moiynkum District, the auyl of Moiynkum; Sarysu District, the town of Janatas; Shu District, the auyl of Tole bi; Talas District, the town of Karatau; Turar Ryskulov District, the auyl of Kulan; Zhualy District, the auyl of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly. Janatas, Karatau, Shu, and Taraz have the administrative status of a town. Economy Important industries include rock phosphate mining (around Karatau). The Chu River valley is one of Kazakhstan's important areas of irrigated agriculture. The core of the rail transportation network in the region is based on the east-west Turksib rail line, which runs through Taraz and