Gallery: The Eccentric Autocrat Who Spent Billions Inventing a City
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Aerial view of Astana’s neo-baroque Avenue of the Republic: The grand center of the new town.
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A residential area of Almaty near the Tien Shan mountains.
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Topiary swans sit in front of the Kaz Munai Gas Building in Astana’s central business district. They were part of a sculpture competition celebrating Kazakh national culture.
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A decorative country scene adorns a banner covering a fence surrounding a construction site in Astana.
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A French fashion photographer rides a horse near the tourist attraction Medeu in Almaty.
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A sweep view of Big Almaty Lake in the Tien Shan mountain range.
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A pipeline cuts through the Tien Shan Mountains, bringing water from Big Almaty Lake to Almaty.
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Boys gather on the artificial banks of the Ishim River in Astana.
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The Sunkar International Ski Jumping Complex in Almaty, photographed in the early spring.
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An excavator digs in the Ishim River in Astana.
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Military service members set up barriers in Panfilov Park in Almaty in preparation for Victory Day. The holiday celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
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Soviet-era housing blocks in Almaty.
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Girls wade in Astana's outdoor fountains near residential buildings.
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The contrast between old and new parts of Astana is striking.
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