In 1832 on the bank of Ishim River, in the Karaotkel woods, an outer    
    military district, called Akmola was founded. Afterwards, Akmola became
    a central point for various trade fairs, famous for a broad range and 
    abundance of livestock and Kazakh diary products (kumys, shubat, etc.)
    That eventually had called forth naming that region Ak Mol, meaning in 
    the Kazakh language "White Wealth".
        The name of the closest railway station is Astana station. The present
    city boundaries were approved in 1974.
        An administrative role of the city is being the capital of the Republic of  
    Kazakhstan. The city was given its present name in 1998. Before that it 
   had changed its name three times: until 1961 the name of the town was 
   Akmolinsk, from 1961 to 1992 it was Tselinograd, from 1992 to 1998 - 
   Akmola. 
        The city of Astana is located in the north of Sary Arka territory (in 
   Kazakh meaning Golden Land), on the right bank of the Ishim River. Long 
   time ago, having been a big center of activity, joining Europe and Asia,
   nowadays Astana keeps playing a significiant role of a transportation 
   junction focusing major highways, railroads and airlines of the state 
   importance. Main goods traffic is determined by strong economic relations
   between South and Central Kazakhstan, Western Siberia and the Ural
   Mountains, Volga Region and Russia. Over 96% of the total traffic of 
   goods via Astana is transit. The distance between Astana and Almaty is 
   1.318 km. The city occupies the area of 300 sq. km.
       The current population of Astana is 300.000 people. In 
   1998 migration balance in Astana was positive, and it is 
   forecasted that in the near futurethe city population will
   exceed 500.000 people. Presumably, such growth will be 
   mainly caused by inter-and intra- regional migration.
       Following the design concept, a base of Master Plan, presented by 
   famous Japanese architect Mr Kise Kurokawa, the city will be developed 
   in two directions: along the updating the old part of the city the unused 
   lands on the left bank of the Ishim River will be developed. Pursuant to the
   conception of the President, the new capital will combine the beauty of 
   Europe and refinement of the East and have all the conditions necessary 
   for a pleasant life. In the city there will be glass passages from building to
   building, hanging winter gardens, and people will be able to walk and 
   breath the fresh air, work efficiently and enjoy leisure time. 
       A great volume of investments is required for the programmes devoted 
   to the development of social and cultural spheres, transport and telecom-
   munication, plenting of greenery, flow regulation and bank fortification of 
   the Ishim River, construction of ring roads and bridge systems. A huge
   work on creating optimal conditions for the development of business 
   infrastructure in Astana is ahead. It involves the construction of business
   centers, hotels, exhibition complexes, and also suburban recreation 
   facilities for city-dwellers.