Central Asia

Today I will be visiting two sites in Central Asia. Both of the sites I am visiting are located in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Nur-Sultan is the capital city of Kazakhstan and is the home of 1.14 million people. 

Site 1 – Our first site was the Bayterek Tower. The Bayterek Tower, a monumental tower in the middle of Kazakhstan's capital, was opened in 2002, bringing a new era in people's lives and becoming a symbol not only of Astana, but of the entire country. The project began at the request of Kazakhstan's President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who was also the creator of the Akmurza Rustembekov project, to honor the former Soviet Union's ten years of independence. The Bayterek is located in the center of Radiant Path, also known as Nurzhol Boulevard. The Kazakh word “bayterek” translates as “high poplar”, referring to the tree. The tower stands at a height of 97 meters, but it increases to 105 meters when you include the base.  Inside the base is an aquarium, the Bayterek Gallery, and a small cafeteria. There is an elevator inside the tower that takes guests to a panoramic room with a great view of the city at a height of 86 meters. 

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Site 2 – Out second site was the Hazret Sultan Mosque. The structure was designed in a classical Islamic style and features native Kazakh decorations. The Mosque, which is located on the right bank of the Yesil River, is close to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, the "Kazakh Eli" monument, and the Independence Square. On weekdays, it can hold 5,000 worshipers, and on holidays, it can hold up to 10,000. With a height of 51 meters and a diameter of 28.1 meters at the base, Hazret Sultan features Kazakhstan's largest dome. There are eight little domes in the mosque, with diameters of 10.45 and 7.6 meters and peaks of 33.46 and 25, 25 meters. The temple is known to be built to cover the 80-meter tower with a crescent towards Mecca, according to the architectural plan. In terms of the object's functioning, it should be mentioned that the structure provides room for bathing rituals and weddings, as well as halls for reading the Koran and sitting in educational groups. 

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