Bayterek

Every day the new capital of Kazakhstan becomes more beautiful. Broad avenues, nice parks and picturesque buildings decorate it. Some monuments and memorials are not only the element of city decoration. They have naturally become the symbols of Astana. One of these buildings is Bayterek. It is a monument and observation tower at the same time. The monument was put up in 1997. it was built on Nursultan Nazarbayev’s decision. The tower is a famous tourist attraction popular both with foreign visitors and native Kazakhstans. It became a symbol of the city and its visiting catrd. But it also symbolizes a new status of Astana as the new capital of Kazakhstan.

The author of the project is the famous English architect Norman Foster. He was invited to make the design and construct the building. The height of the tower is 105 meters. The construction consists of a tall narrow cylindrical shaft and a huge golden spherical ball. Its diameter is 22 meters. There is an observatory on the 97 meter level. It is a special viewing platform allowing visitors to see the environs of the new capital form its height. The figure 97 was specially chosen. It means the year when Astana was declared the capital city of the country.

Bayterek inits shape and composition expresses the idea of ancient nomads about the structure and origin of the Universe. According to their old beliefs there is a great river at the border of the two worlds. The mythical tree rises on the riverside. Its name is Bayterek. The roots of this tree support the earth and its crown props up the sky. Thus the roots are in the underground world, its trunk is in the terrestrial and the crown is in the celestial world.

Every year a magic bird named Samruk lays an egg – the Sun. It is swallowed by the dragon Aidakhar who loves at the bottom of the tree. This process has a symbolic idea of changing summer and winter, day and night, and the never-ending battle between good and evil.

The importance of the tower Baiterek as a symbol of a new era in the Kazakh people’s life is emphasized by the art composition Ajaaly Alakan with the right hand print of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first president of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is possible fir the visitors to place their hand on the imprint. It is believed the wish thought at that moment will come true. One can hear the melody of the national anthem accompanying the procedure.

Visitors may go inside the tower. A high-speed elevator can take them up to the viewing platform inside the great ball. There is also an art gallery, large aquarium and a restaurant in the tower.

Bayterek means a young, strong, growing tree. It symbolizes a state which has kept all its historical roots, and at the same time has a firm position and aspiration for future prosperity.