Astana

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Astana, Kazakhstan Akmola, Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola/Aqmola Founded as a Cossack fort in 1824, it became known as Akmola in 1830. It was officially renamed in 1832 as Akmolinsk, ‘White Tomb’, from the Turkish ak and Russian mogila ‘tomb’ when it became a town. From 1961 to 1992, the town was called Tselinograd, ‘Virgin Lands City’ from tselina ‘Virgin Lands’ and grad, as the capital of a Russian government initiative. Begun in 1954 it aimed to increase arable land by irrigating the steppes and deserts of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This necessitated a huge influx of workers. In 1992 the name Akmola (Aqmola in Kazakh) was restored. It became the capital of Kazakhstan in December 1997 in place of Almaty. Reasons for the transfer may have included the desire to enhance the ethnic Kazakh presence in the north, to integrate the strong Russian presence in the north which is rich in metals, oil and farmland more fully into Kazakh life, and to place the capital nearer to the centre of this huge country. Almaty, the former capital, is very close to the Kyrgyz border in the south. It may also have been that Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakh president (1990– ), wished to distance himself from a previous long‐term leader of Kazakhstan, Dinmukhamed Kunayev, who was strongly associated with Almaty. In May 1998 the city was renamed Astana, meaning ‘Capital’ in Kazakh. The province of Aqmola has retained its name.

Astana , formerly Aqmola or Akmola , city (2008 est. pop. 600,000), capital of Kazakhstan and Aqmola prov., in central Kazakhstan on the Ishim (Esil) River. Agricultural machinery and consumer goods are manufactured; there are also leather-tanning, food-processing, clothing and footwear, and building-materials industries. Astana is also an important rail junction. Several universities are there. The city was founded as a fortress in 1824. It was called Akmolinsk and was the capital of the former Akmolinsk region until 1961, when it was renamed Tselinograd. As capital of the Virgin Lands Territory (Tselinny Kray) agricultural project, the city experienced a tremendous growth in population. After Kazakhstan gained its independence, the city and the region were renamed (1991) Aqmola. In 1994, Aqmola was designated as the future capital of Kazakhstan, and after the capital was moved there in 1997 the city was again renamed (1998). The transfer to Astana has sparked a construction boom, most dramatically on the left bank of the Ishim where the new government offices are located. Among the city's new buildings are the pyramidal Palace of Peace (2006) and the central concert hall (2009).

Astana (formerly Aqmola) Capital-designate of Kazakstan, on the River Ishim in the steppes of n central Kazakstan. Under Soviet rule, Aqmola functioned as capital of the Virgin Lands. From 1961 to 1993 it was known as Tselinograd; from 1993 to 1998 as Aqmola. Pop. (1999 est.) 280,500.