Astana - the capital of Kazakhstan

Akmola steppes have always been the territory of interethnic communication of various nations and cultures. In the middle of the first millenium B.C. the Grand Silk Way mentioned by the Great ancient Greek historian Herodotus ran through these steppes. Numerous caravan routes gave birth to cities with prosperous trade and handicrafts. In the 19th century Akmola was a substantial commercial and economic centre in the steppe. The history of Akmolinks goes back the year of 1830 when the fortress with this name was established in the area of Karautkel by the Russian Empire. By the end of the 19th century it had became a district with the population of 6,428, which could boast of three churches 5 schools and colleges and three factories. Such was the first stage in the development of the city.

The second stage with the paramount impact for the destiny of the city was the development of the virgin land. In December 1960 the city numbering about 100,000 people turned into the centre of the Tselinny territory, which embraced all northern regions of Kazakhstan. Shortly after in 1961 Akmolinsk changed its name for Tselinograd and grew into a modern and beautiful city with population of 250,000 citizens. Thousands volunteers from the former USSR came to build the city and live here. Within ten years 4 palaces, 4 fashionable hotels, many shops and different institutions were built in the city. Tselinny region became a great agricultural centre with well-development agricultural machine-building, dairy-and-meat cattle-breeding, and poultry farming.

In 1992 the city has got its former name Akmola again. But in 1998 with the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Akmola, the city got a new symbolic name-Astana. This decision was prompted by economic, ecological and geographical expediency. Overall conditions of the city, its territory, its being, in fact, the geographic centre of Kazakhstan, the well-developed transport system, balanced natural environment and other factors came to be decisive in making the choice. Transferring the capital to Astana will, surely, give rise to economic uplift of the northern, central and eastern regions of the country. In other worlds, the more balanced economic development of the country will be achieved. Today’s reality is stunning. Astana is all in scaffolds. Construction is going on all round the city. The magnificent buildings of the House of Parliament and the Government building, a great number of new institutions and restored buildings attract the attention of Astana citizens and tourists. Astana is becoming the international, business and cultural centre of not only Kazakhstan, but of the Eurasian continent as a whole.

• False or true?

1. In the 19th century Akmola was a significant commercial centre.

2. The history of Akmolinsk starts from the year of 1730.

3. By the end of the 19th century it had a population of 6,428 people.

4. In January 1961 the city turned into the centre of the Tselinny territory.

5. In 1990 the city was returned its former name - Akmola.

6. Astana is all in scaffords.

PART V: EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN