Aqköl

Akkol (Kazakh: Ақкөл, Aqköl, Chinese: 阿科尔), formerly known as Alexeyevka (Russian: Алексеевка, until 1997), is a town in northern Kazakhstan. It is located 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of the national capital Nur-Sultan along the highway between Nur-Sultan and the Burabay National Nature Park. The town is the administrative centre of Aqköl District of Aqmola Region. Most of the people are Kazakhs and Russians. There are smaller minorities of Ukrainians and Germans. The population is 14,217 (2009 Census results);[1]15,682 (1999 Census results).[1]

Aqköl Ақкөл
Seal
Aqköl Location in Kazakhstan Show map of Kazakhstan Aqköl Aqköl (Asia) Show map of Asia
Coordinates: 52°00′00″N 70°56′00″E
Country	Kazakhstan
Region	Aqmola Region
Established	1887
Government
• Akim	Yury Kurushin
Area
• Total	9,400 km2 (3,600 sq mi)
Population  (2009)
• Total	14,217
Time zone	UTC+6 (UTC+6)
Postal code	020100
Area code	+7 71638
Website	http://akkol.akmol.kz/

From its foundation in 1887 till 1997 it had borne the name Alexeyevka. It sits on the western side of a lake of the same name. Thus, it is located between the lake, thick pine forest running to the Russian Federation and a broad plain spreading towards Nur-Sultan. The population of the neighbourhood centre numbers around 14,000 inhabitants. The Kazakh population is around 40%. The rest is composed mostly of the Slavonic people, such as Russians and Ukrainians. Most of the buildings in the town consist of single-storey private houses, though there are also many five-storey buildings in the town. On the western side Aqköl is sheltered by a pine-covered volcano named in Russian Kalancha (Watchtower) and in Kazakh Monshakty (having beads). There is also a ground mission control centre of Kazcosmos inside the pine forest as well as a ski resort named “SharZhum” which accommodates guests and tourists throughout the year on the timber edge. There is also a municipal park in the middle of Aqköl. The town is divided into two parts by a railroad intersected by two curved bridges and one railroad crossing with barrier.