Astana is the northernmost capital of Asia. The city is situated in the
central Kazakhstan on the banks of the Ishim River. It is located in
steppe and has an extreme continental climate – summers here are hot,
while winters are very dry and cold. Astana is the second coldest
capital city in the world.
The city was founded in 1830 and its first name was Akmolinsk, then in
1961 it was renamed Tselinograd. In 1992 the city’s name was changed to
Akmola. Akmola became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997 and in 1998 the
city received its present name Astana.
\There are a lot of beautiful parks and fountains in Astana, the most
famous of which is “Tree of Life” fountain. In the city there are also
some theatres and museums, concert halls and trading and entertainment
centres. As Astana is the capital of the country there are government
buildings and the residence of the president.