ASTANA

formerly (until 1961) Akmolinsk, or (196192) Tselinograd, or (199298) Aqmola, city, capital of Kazakstan. Astana (meaning Capital in Kazak) lies in north-central Kazakstan along the Ishim River at the junction of the Trans-Kazakstan and South Siberian railways. It was founded in 1824 as a Russian military outpost and became an administrative centre in 1868. Its population had reached 33,000 when it was made an oblast (province) centre in 1939. The city's importance was greatly enhanced during the Soviet period by the government's Virgin and Idle Lands Campaign of the mid-1950sTselinograd was Russian for City of the Virgin Landsand by the city's role as capital of a kray (region) that united the five northern oblasti of the Kazakh S.S.R. in 196065. There was much new construction and the establishment of various research and higher educational institutions (teacher training, agriculture, medicine, and engineering and construction). The city's name was changed to Aqmola (White Grave) in 1992 following Kazakstan's independence. In 1994 the Kazak government resolved to transfer the national capital from Almaty to Aqmola, a process completed in 1997, and the city's name was again changed the following year. Much of the population is employed by the railways. Various types of agricultural machinery are also produced. Pop. (1995 est.) 280,200.