An undistinguished agricultural center for most of its history, Astana (pop. 300,000) became the new capital of Kazakhstan in December 1997. The move was unpopular. Astana, originally founded as a Russian frontier fortress in 1824, has a severe climate, with brutally cold winters and hot summers plagued by mosquitoes.
The city's old name, Akmola, means "white grave" (Astana means "capital"). Nonetheless, Astana's new status means progress. New hotels are being built, and there are plans to create a series of urban parks and gardens by widening the Yesil River, or Green River, which cuts through town. But the main business of this new city is politics, so other than a few monuments and new government buildings, there is little to interest tourists at this time.
680 mi/1,100 km north of Almaty.
