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Baiterek (Kazakh: Бәйтерек, romanized: Báıterek;
"tall poplar [tree]")
is
a
monument
and
observation
tower
in Nur-Sultan,
the
capital
city
of Kazakhstan.
A
tourist
attraction
popular
with
foreign
visitors
and
native
Kazakhs,
it
is
emblematic
of
the
city,
which
became
capital
of
the
country
in
1997.
The
tower
is
located
within
on
the
Nurzhol
Boulevard,
and
is
considered
a
symbol
of
post-independence
Kazakhstan.
The
monument
is
meant
to
embody
a
folktale
about
a
mythical
tree
of
life
and
a
magic
bird
of
happiness:
the
bird,
named
Samruk,
had
laid
its egg in
the
crevice
between
two
branches
of
a
poplar
tree.
The
105m
(344.5
ft.)
tall
structure
rises
from
a
wide
flat
base
within
a
raised
plaza.
It
consists
of
a
narrow
cylindrical
shaft,
surrounded
by
white
branch-like
girders
that
flare
out
near
the
top,
supporting
a
gold-mirrored
22
m
diameter
sphere.
The
base
contains
a
ticket
booth
and
exhibition
space,
with
two
lifts
rising
within
the
shaft
to
the
observation
deck
within
the
'egg'.
Entrances
to
the
monument
are
sunk
below
eye
level,
reached
by
stairs
from
the
surrounding
plaza.
The
observation
deck
is
97
m
above
ground
level,
corresponding
to
1997,
the
year
that
Nur-Sultan
became
the
nation's
capital.
It
consists
of
two
levels,
one
with
360
degree
views
of
Nur-Sultan
and
beyond,
with
a
second,
higher
level,
reached
by
a
flight
of
stairs.
The
top
level
features
a
gilded
hand
print
of
the
right
hand
of Nursultan
Nazarbayev,
the
first
President
of
the
independent Republic
of
Kazakhstan,
mounted
in
an
ornate
pedestal.
A
plaque
invites
visitors
to
place
a
hand
in
the
imprint
and
make
a
wish.
Alongside
the
handprint,
and
also
oriented
in
the
direction
of
the
presidential
palace,
is
a
wooden
sculpture
of
a
globe
and
16
radiating
segments,
commemorating
the
Congress
of
Leaders
of
World
and
Traditional
Religions,
held
several
times
in
Nur-Sultan
.
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