Astana

Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, exemplifies the nation’s swift modernization and its aspirational outlook for the future. Located in northern central Kazakhstan, this city of 1,350,228 people (as of 2022) has come to represent the country’s will and development. Tucked down in the Akmola Region on the banks of the Ishim River, Astana has an unusual administrative position that distinguishes it from the surrounding area. Its strategic position and increasing significance have helped it to rise to be the second-largest city in Kazakhstan, exceeded only by Almaty, its former capital.

The path the city took to become well-known is an amazing story of reinventions and change. Known under several names during its history—Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Akmola—each name captures a particular phase of the city’s growth. A turning point in Kazakhstan’s post-Soviet history, the choice to move the capital from Almaty to Astana in 1997 signalled the nation’s will to create a new identity and plot its own route in the contemporary world.

Astana has changed remarkably since taking on the function as the seat of government. The city’s skyline has been drastically changed to reflect a variety of futuristic constructions and towers defining its own architectural distinctiveness. On the global scene, this fast development is not invisible; Astana is becoming more and more contemporary city among Central Asia. The government’s choice in 2021 to name Astana among the 10 top tourism sites in the nation highlights even more its increasing relevance both locally and internationally.

Astana’s contemporary capital city is the outcome of deliberate planning and innovative design. Like other intended capitals throughout the globe, Astana’s development has been directed by a thorough master plan. Renowned Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa was the creative brain behind this massive project; his design philosophy has permanently changed the urban scene of the city. Kurokawa’s idea deftly combines aesthetic appeal with utility to produce a visually arresting cityscape that is also highly efficient.

Astana, the administrative center of Kazakhstan, holds the most significant government buildings in the nation. Within the city constraints is the great Ak Orda Presidential Palace, the elegant Supreme Court, and the towering Parliament House. The core of Kazakhstan’s political and administrative system includes these buildings in addition to many more government ministries and organizations. The consolidation of these important institutions in Astana has solidified Astana’s role as the nerve hub of national government.

Astana’s physical location is interesting, especially given the size of Kazakhstan. About 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Almaty, the former capital and biggest city, Astana’s choice as the new capital marked a dramatic change in the center of gravity of the nation. This action not only dispersed governmental authority but also sought to promote central region of Kazakhstan’s growth. Karaganda, 200 kilometers (120 miles) distant and the Russian city of Omsk, 450 kilometers (280 miles) to the north, are the closest significant metropolitan hubs to Astana.

Situated in the middle of the enormous semi-arid Kazakh Steppe, which dominates much of the nation’s terrain, Astana’s physical surroundings define it. Geographically speaking, the city lies 51° 10’ north latitude and 71° 26’ east longitude and rests 347 meters (1,138 feet) above sea level. This orientation puts Astana in a transitional zone between the less populated center portions and the more populous northern parts of Kazakhstan. The Ishim River, which runs through the city, acts as a natural dividing line; the older sections of Astana are on the northern bank while the more recent constructions extend southward.

Covering an astounding 722.0 square kilometers (278.8 square miles), the city’s design offers enough territory for present infrastructure as well as future development. Wide boulevards, large public squares, and substantial green areas—all of which help to define the contemporary and open character of the city—are made possible by this broad urban footprint. The combination of the modern southern projects with the older, more traditional northern areas produces a distinctive urban patchwork reflecting both Kazakhstan’s rich past and its forward-looking goals.

The Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport best illustrates Astana’s function as a center of connection and mobility. Situated 17 kilometers (11 miles) southeast of the city center, this essential connection for local and international flight traffic is with an astounding 7,500,000 passengers expected in 2023, the airport’s importance is highlighted as the second busiest in Kazakhstan. The airport is vital in linking Astana—and thus, Kazakhstan—to the larger globe as 21 airlines provide daily flights to locations both inside Kazakhstan and outside.

The fact that the national flag airline of Kazakhstan, Air Astana, uses Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport emphasizes even more its significance. The airline’s quite strong presence at the airport improves Kazakhstan’s international flight linkages in addition to facilitating internal connectivity. Acknowledging the airport’s strategic relevance and the rising demand, officials started building a new terminal. Designed to allow an expected 50% increase in passenger traffic, this extension project will add about 40,000 square meters (430,000 square feet). Astana’s dedication to keep its contemporary, well-connected capital city is shown by its forward-looking attitude to infrastructure development.