Six years ago, in 2019, by Presidential Decree No. 6 of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on March 23, the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, was renamed Nur-Sultan.
The foundation of the city was laid in 1830 as the Akmola fortress. During the Soviet era, the city was called Tselinograd. In 1992, after Kazakhstan gained independence, the government restored its historical name, Akmola.
On July 6, 1994, the Supreme Council of Kazakhstan decided to move the capital from Almaty to Akmola. The official relocation of central government bodies began on December 10, 1997.
On May 6, 1998, the new capital was renamed Astana.
In 2019, Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan. However, in 2022, the name Astana was restored.
The city’s area is 797.33 km². As of January 1, 2023, the population of Astana was 1,354,435 people, making it the second-largest city in Kazakhstan after Almaty.
Astana is one of the coldest capitals in the world. In winter, temperatures can drop to -40°C, while in summer, they can rise to +35°C. The city experiences long, harsh winters and short, hot summers.
In 1999, Astana was awarded the title of “City of Peace” by UNESCO.
