The Kazakh capital Astana is a modern, convenient and comfortable city. Founded as a small village in the 19th century, it grew over time, turning into one of the largest metropolitan areas in Central Asia. However, the role of the capital went to Astana relatively recently, only in 1997. Today, this city continues to grow rapidly, with new houses and sparkling skyscrapers sprouting everywhere, and there is every chance that Astana will become one of the most modern and technological Asian cities in the near future.
Facts about the city of Astana
- Several dozen residents of this city, according to the results of the census, bear the name «Astana».
- In the past, Astana has changed several names – Akmolinsk, Tselinograd and Akmola.
- The first settlements on the site of modern Astana date back to the Bronze Age.
- Among the honorary citizens of Astana, there are as many as four presidents. One of them is the current President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, but this list also includes the former heads of Greece, Moldova and South Korea (interesting facts about Moldova).
- It gets warmer every year in Astana. The average annual temperature rises by an average of 0.4 degrees every 10 years.
- The flag and coat of arms of the Kazakh capital were approved only in 2008, 11 years after Astana became the actual capital.
- Astana Arena has a movable roof system measuring 10,000 sq.m. It is one of six such structures in the world.
- Aquarium of Astana “Duman” is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most remote from the water. The distance from the nearest ocean to the metropolitan aquarium reaches 3000 kilometers.
- The modern name for this city was chosen because it does not cause any negative associations, and sounds harmonious in all languages of the world.
- Since 2016, Astana has officially been a city with a million inhabitants.
- About 12% of all citizens here are Russians by nationality.
- Around Astana, in a green belt with an area of over 14.8 hectares, more 9.6 million trees and about 1.8 million shrubs.
- The oldest building in Astana is almost two centuries old, it appeared in the city in 1846. This is the museum of Saken Seifullin.
- In terms of population, Astana ranks second in Kazakhstan, behind the city of Almaty (interesting facts about Kazakhstan).
- Astana has an area of about 800 square kilometers, which is larger than the area of states such as Bahrain, Andorra or Kiribati.
- The largest buildings in the world of tent and spherical shape were built in Astana. The largest tent is the Khan Shatyr shopping and entertainment center, and the largest ball is the Museum of the Future.
- The Capital Day was not always celebrated on July 6th. Until 2006, Astana celebrated its “birth” on June 10.
- Astana Opera is the largest theater in Central Asia. The main hall of the theater has a capacity of 1250 seats.
- Among all the capitals of Asia, Astana is the northernmost one.
- In the list of the coldest capitals in the world, Astana is in second place, second only to Mongolian Ulaanbaatar ( interesting facts about Ulaanbaatar).
- In the local Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, unique elevators are installed that rise not vertically upwards, but at an angle of 60 degrees. Only two other buildings around the world have similar structures, including the Eiffel Tower.
- In Astana, in the Khazret Sultan Mosque, there is an absolute copy of the ancient Islamic manuscript of the 8th century Osman’s Quran. This is a gift from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. It was made in the Moscow Mint of the Russian Federation from 999 silver.