Kokshetau

Kokshetau (/ˌkɒkʃɪˈtaʊ/; Kazakh: Kökşetau [kɵkʃʲetɑw] ⓘ; lit. 'Blue Mountain'), formerly known as Kokchetav (/ˌkɒktʃɪˈtæv/; Russian: Кокчетав [kəktɕe'taf]) between 1868 and 1993, is a lakeside city in northern Kazakhstan and the capital of Akmola Region. It stretches along the southern shore of Lake Kopa, lying in the north of Kokshetau Hills, a northern subsystem of the Kokshetau Uplands (Saryarka) and the southern edge of the Ishim Steppe. It is named after Mount Kokshe. It was the administrative center of Kokshetau Region (oblast) from 1944 to 1991 as part of the Soviet Union and from 1991 as part of Kazakhstan to 1997 when it was abolished. It is also situated at the junction of the Trans-Kazakhstan and South Siberian railways. Kokshetau lies at an elevation of approximately 234 m (768 ft) above sea level. The climate of Kokshetau features hot summers and cold winters.