Astana , formerly known as Akmola (Kazakh: Ақмола / Aqmola / اقمولا, until 1998), Tselinograd (until 1992) and Akmolinsk (Russian: Акмолинск, until 1961), is the capital and second largest city (after Almaty) of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 708,794 as of 1 August 2010 (...) (from Wikipedia)