Astana

Astana is Kazakhstan’s capital and second-largest city, located in the country’s north-central region along the Ishim River. Its planned government district and landmark architecture reflect its role as a national showcase.

Akmolinsk: A settlement founded as a Russian military outpost in 1830, later known as Akmolinsk and Tselinograd. The city’s earliest name and settlement history begin with this outpost.
Ishim River: A tributary of the Irtysh River that flows through Kazakhstan and Russia, including Astana. Its banks structure the city’s central districts and urban landscape.
Ak Orda Presidential Palace: The official workplace and residence of Kazakhstan’s president, situated in Astana. Its monumental position anchors the capital’s government district.
Nursultan Nazarbayev: Kazakhstan’s first president, who led the country from independence in 1991 until 2019. He initiated the capital’s relocation and strongly shaped its development.
Almaty: Kazakhstan’s largest city and former capital, located in the country’s southeast near the Tian Shan mountains. It remains the country’s principal metropolis despite losing capital status.
Tselinograd: The Soviet-era name of the city now called Astana, used from 1961 to 1992. This name marks the city’s transformation into a center of the Virgin Lands campaign.
Kazakh Uplands: A vast upland region of central and northern Kazakhstan, also known as the Kazakh Melkosopochnik. Astana lies at the northern edge of this continental upland landscape.
Bayterek Tower: A 97-meter monument and observation tower in Astana, designed by architect Akmurza Rustembekov. Its silhouette has become a signature of the city’s new center.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: Kazakhstan’s president since 2019 and a former diplomat and senior government official. He restored the name Astana after the city had been renamed for Nazarbayev.
Karaganda: A major industrial city in central Kazakhstan, historically associated with coal mining. Its established industrial economy contrasts with Astana’s government-led growth.

Linked from 6 pages