The city of Astana is truly a unique place. It was constructed in 1997 to replace the city of Almaty as the capital of Kazakhstan. Almaty was in the southeastern corner of the country, but the president of Kazakhstan wanted a new capital. So Astana was built right in the middle of the country. As a result, this modern city is surrounded by nothing but rural areas.
The unusual architecture of Astana makes it look like a space-age city. There are amazing skyscrapers and eye-catching buildings. A cultural center looks like a big, blue eye. A university building has the shape of a dog bowl.
Another unusual building, the Bayterek Tower, is a symbol of the city. This tall structure is 105 m (345 ft.) high and looks like an enormous tree with a golden egg inside.
A Japanese architect named Kisho Kurokawa won first prize in a competition to design and plan the new capital. He included many parks and public spaces to connect urban life with nature.
Astana has pleasant summers. But the weather can get very cold in the winter, with temperatures dropping to -40°C (-40°F). Because of its extreme climate, Astana offers a lot of indoor entertainment. A popular entertainment center is the Khan Shatyr, or king’s tent, the world’s largest tent. Inside there is a river for boating, a park, an indoor running track, a waterslide, and even a sandy beach with palm trees! The residents of Astana can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities even when it’s well below freezing.