Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country.
The city stands on the Ishim River in northern Kazakhstan and became the national capital in 1997, replacing Almaty. Its location helped the government develop a more centrally positioned administrative centre and encouraged investment in the northern part of the country. Astana's modern skyline includes distinctive buildings such as the Bayterek monument and the tent-shaped Khan Shatyr complex.
The capital has changed names several times. It was known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Akmola before becoming Astana in 1998. It was renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019, then restored to Astana in 2022. Almaty remains Kazakhstan's largest city and a major cultural and financial centre, so it is a common mix-up, but Astana is the constitutional capital.