Astana (Kazakh: Астана), formerly also known as Akmola, Akmolinsk, Tselinograd and Nur-Sultan, is the capital of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,622,245 within the city limits, it is the country's second-largest city after Almaty, which was the national capital until 1997. The city lies in the north of Kazakhstan, on the banks of the Ishim River. Although it lies within Akmola Region, it is self-governing. First founded in 1830 as Aqmoly, the city was later renamed Akmolinsk, Tselinograd and Aqmola, before taking in 1998 the name Astana, meaning "capital" in Kazakh. In 2019 it briefly took the name Nur-Sultan in honour of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but in 2022 it once again took the name Astana.
Astana's history has been marked by rapid growth, particularly after it became the capital. Its transformation into a modern, planned city took place in accordance with a master plan designed by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Today Astana is famous for its futuristic architecture, home to important state institutions including the Akorda Residence, the Parliament Building and the Supreme Court. It has become an important centre for culture, education and commerce in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
The city is famous for modern landmarks such as the Bayterek — symbolising Kazakhstan's independence — the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre, and the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, designed to host cultural and interfaith events, underscores the city's role as a centre of dialogue and cooperation. In 2021 Astana was recognised as one of Kazakhstan's ten priority tourist destinations. Visitors can explore cultural venues such as the Astana Opera and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as parks such as the Presidential Park and Central Park, which offer recreational areas stretching along the Ishim.
Astana gained international recognition by hosting the 2011 Asian Winter Games; this event showcased the city's ability to organise large-scale sporting events. The city also hosted Expo 2017, a major international exhibition focused on the theme "Future Energy", which drew global attention to its commitment to sustainability and innovation. Astana also hosts the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, an important event that brings together religious leaders from around the world to promote mutual understanding and peace.
Etymology
Astana means "capital" in Kazakh.
In the 19th century, during the Tsarist Russian period, Astana was known by the names Akmoly ("white grave") and Akmolinsk. In 1961, during the Soviet period, it took the name Tselinograd during the Virgin Lands Project. After Kazakhstan declared independence in 1991, it was changed to Akmola. In 1998, when the city became the country's new capital, it was changed to Astana.
In 2019, following the resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had served as head of state for 28 years, the city's name was changed to Nur-Sultan in his honour. In September 2022 the Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approved changing the capital's name back to Astana.
Russian Empire period
The settlement of Akmoly was founded in 1830 as an okrug on the banks of the Ishim River by a unit of the Siberian Cossacks led by Fyodor Shubin. It is thought to have taken its name from a place in the region. In 1832 the settlement gained the status of a town and took the name Akmolinsk. The town's highly advantageous location was noted in 1863 as an entry in the Geographical and Statistical Dictionary of the Russian Empire. It describes how this geographical centre was connected by roads and lines to Kargaly in the east, the fortress of Aktau in the south, and from Atbasar to Kokshetau in the west. In 1838, during the great national liberation movement led by Kenesary Khan, the Akmolinsk fortress was burned down. After his movement was suppressed, the fortress was rebuilt. On 16 July 1863 Akmolinsk was officially declared a uyezd town. During the rapid development of the Russian capitalist market, the regions of Saryarka were actively used by the administration for economic purposes. To draft the regulations governing the Kazakh steppes, the imperial government formed the Steppe Commission in 1865. On 21 October 1868 Tsar Alexander II signed a draft regulation concerning the administration of the Turgay, Ural, Akmolinsk and Semipalatinsk oblasts. In 1869 Akmolinsk became the centre of the newly established Akmolinsk Oblast. While its population did not exceed 2,000 in the first 30 years of its existence, over the following 30 years its population tripled. In 1893 Akmolinsk was a uyezd of 6,428 inhabitants, with 3 churches, 5 schools and 3 factories.
Soviet Union period
During the Russian Civil War between 1917 and 1919, Akmolinsk was a centre of conflict between the Bolsheviks and their opponents.
During World War II, Akmolinsk served as a route for transporting engineering vehicles and equipment from facilities evacuated from the Russian SFSR, the Ukrainian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR to the Kazakh SSR. Local industries were mobilised to meet the needs of the war, helping the country supply the war and the home fronts with all necessary materials. In the post-war years Akmolinsk became a symbol of the economic revival in the war-ravaged west of the USSR. Many Germans were also resettled here under the rule of Joseph Stalin.
In the 1950s, the northern oblasts of the Kazakh SSR became part of the Virgin Lands Project directed by Nikita Khrushchev, with the aim of making the region the Soviet Union's second grain producer. In December 1960 the Central Committee of the CPSU decided to establish Tselinny Krai, covering five oblasts in the north of the Kazakh SSR. Akmolinsk Oblast continued to exist as a separate administrative entity. Its raions were directly subordinate to the new krai administration, and Akmolinsk became the administrative centre of the new Virgin Lands economic region and the administrative centre of the krai. On 20 March 1961, at Khrushchev's proposal and in keeping with its role in the Virgin Lands Project, the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR changed the name of the city of Akmolinsk to Tselinograd. On 24 April, Akmolinsk Oblast took the name Tselinograd Oblast. In the 1960s Tselinograd was completely transformed. In 1963 work began on the first three new high-rise residential districts. In addition, the city acquired a number of new monumental buildings, including the Palace of the Virgin Lands, the Palace of Youth, the House of Soviets, a new airport and various sports halls. In 1971 Tselinny Krai was abolished and Tselinograd became the administrative centre of the oblast.
Sources
- Turkish Wikipedia: tr.wikipedia.org
- English Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org