Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. It is located on the Ishim River in the north portion of Kazakhstan, within Akmola Province, though administrated separately from the province as a federal city area. The 2014 census reported a population of 835,153 within the city, making it the second-largest city in Kazakhstan.
Founded in 1830 as Akmolinsk and renamed as Tselinograd in 1961, the city has evolved into a cultural and administrative centre of Virgin Lands Campaign.In 1992, it was renamed as Akmola , the original name meaning "white holy place" or "white abundance".
Bayterek Astana
On 10 December 1997, Akmola became the capital of Kazakhstan. On 6 May 1998, it received the name of Astana, which means "the capital" in Kazakh. Since becoming the capital, Astana has undergone tremendous growth. It is home to many futuristic buildings, hotels and skyscrapers. In addition to serving as government headquarters, Astana is center for industry, sports, healthcare and education.