Astana

Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,7 million within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, the national capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan and is located within the Akmola Region but is self-administering. Initially founded as Aqmoly in 1830, the city was later renamed Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola before adopting the name Astana in 1998, or "capital" in Kazakh. In 2019, the city adopted the name Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but it reverted to the name Astana in 2022. Astana's history includes growth, rapidly growing after becoming the capital. The decision to turn Astana into a modern and planned city was guided by Kisho Kurokawa. It has become an important center for culture, education, and commerce in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.