city, northwestern Kazakhstan, on the Ilek River. It was founded in 1869 as Aktyube (“White Hill”), a small Russian fort; the first Russian peasant settlers arrived in 1878. In 1891 it became the capital of an uyezd (canton) and in 1932 of an oblast (province). During World War II a ferroalloys plant was built to smelt the nickel and chromium ores of the Mughalzhar (Mugodzhar) Hills. Now an important industrial centre, Aqtöbe produces chromium compounds, X-ray apparatus, and parts for agricultural machinery and has stockyards and flour mills. Cultural assets include a teacher-training and a medical institute, a theatre, several museums, and a planetarium. Pop. (1993 est.) 264,000.