During its half-century history of the city, it changed its name several times. The first of them, Akmolinsk, was derived from the Kazakh phrase "Ak Mola", or "White Grave". In the vicinity of the capital, there are still several similar burials. Which of them began to sound, local historians still decide.
The modern history of the city begins approximately in 1830, when the Cossack fortification of Akmolinsk was founded to protect against the raids of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. Immediately around him began to settle people are not military class. The status of the city of an expanded fortress was assigned in 1862.
In 1992, the city was returned the name Akmola, but in 1998 it was again changed in favor of Astana, which in Kazakh means just “the capital”. The process of transferring the state center from Almaty was initiated in 1994, in 1998 the city was presented to the international community as a new center of state.
Since the acquisition of the rating. Architects and builders working in the capital create unique buildings, architectural ensembles, which are in perfect harmony with the modern design of the city.
The Baiterek tower has become a symbol and business card of the capital. The height of the structure is 105 meters. At around 97 meters there is an observation deck, which offers a picturesque panorama of the modern city. The number 97 is not accidental, it symbolizes the year of the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Astana. The Baiterek building houses an art gallery, a huge aquarium and a restaurant.
Astana has become one of the largest business centers. Here are all government organizations, diplomatic missions of 44 countries and 113 countries.
Every year, the city organizes various international exhibitions, conferences, music events and festivals of the peoples of Kazakhstan.
In 1999, by decision of UNESCO, “City of the World” was awarded the title.
The city has an opera and ballet theater, drama theater, many museums. This is a new network.
Currently in the construction of many administrative, business and entertainment centers. One of them is the Duman entertainment center, one of which is a three-dimensional cinema, a theater, a slot machine, a bowling alley, a nightclub, a casino, a hotel, and an indoor water park.
One of the most interesting things here is the ethnographic park “Map of Kazakhstan-Atameken”, which is a unique open-air museum. This area is 1.7 hectares.
Resort Borovoye
Borovoye (260km or 3 hours from Astana)
It has always been a favorite resting place of the Russian aristocracy, here an outstanding Russian scientist Vladimir Vernadsky loved to spend time.
This wonderful area stretches between Astana and the cities of the Kokchetau region. This is a real oasis in the unsightly steppe. According to the landscape, this secluded corner is also called the Kokchetav Hills, and local guides call this place the Kazakh Switzerland.
On the territory of the park there are 14 lakes with a mirror area of more than 1 sq. Km each and a large number of small lakes. In Borovoe there are no monuments of material culture. But the very nature of a combination of majestic mountain landscapes, blue mirror lakes, coniferous forests and leafy groves created unique and uniquely beautiful natural landscapes.
Visiting card of Borovoe- Blue Bay on the lake of the same name. The Zhumbaktas - the Mysterious Sphinx climbs right out of the water of the gulf - it really looks like a sphinx.