It is located in the Kazakh Foothills, in the northern part of the country on the Ish River. The capital has had many names: Akomolinsk, Celinograd, Akmola, and Astana. As of 2019, it is named Nur-Sultan. It is an architecturally modern city, with many impressive buildings, such as the Ak Orda (presidential palace), the Pyramid of Peace and Reconciliation, the Byterek (a monumental observation tower that is a symbol of the city, which emphasizes its new status), the Kazakh National Philharmonic, the Astana Arena - a football stadium, and the Transport Tower - a skyscraper with a distinctive lighter-like appearance.
