July 6· Holiday

Capital Day

A holiday marking the move of the capital from Almaty to Astana, which was officially presented as the capital in 1998.

On 10 December 1997 Kazakhstan's capital moved from Almaty to the city of Akmola in the centre of the country, on the Ishim river; in 1998 the city was renamed Astana and presented to the world on 10 June. 6 July is celebrated in Kazakhstan as Capital Day.

A modern city rose in the middle of the steppe in a short time. Its symbol is the 97-metre Bayterek tower, inspired by the legend of the "tree of life" — its height recalls 1997, the year the capital moved. Other famous landmarks include the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Khan Shatyr and the Astana Opera.

The holiday

On Capital Day Astana hosts concerts, sports events, folk festivities and spectacular fireworks, and the streets and the Ishim embankment fill with residents and visitors.

Video

Photos

Astana at night · Matti Blume / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Bayterek tower · אמר מר / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
View of Astana from the Bayterek tower · Ken and Nyetta / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Khan Shatyr · Quarot / Wikimedia Commons · CC0
The Astana Opera house · Davide Mauro / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Ishim river in Astana · Ayratayrat / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Astana's skyline · Nikolamikovic82 / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Capital Day

The holiday

Video

Photos

Kazakhstan: other days