Kostanay
Kostanay ( ) is a city located on the Tobol River in northern Kazakhstan. It was known as Nikolayevsk () until 1895 and then as Kustanay () until 1997. Kostanay is the administrative center of the Kostanay Region. History. Kostanay was founded by Russian settlers in 1879 and named Nikolaevsk, in honor of Tsar Nicholas II. In 1888, the town had more than 3,000 inhabitants involved in the building of a mill and a brewery, which are still operational. In 1893, Kustanay was granted city status. The Red Army took control in 1918 and changed the city's name to Kustanay. The Kustanay  Region was established in 1936 with its administrative center in Kustanay. Six years after fall of Soviet Union, Kazakhstan renamed it to Kostanay. In 2009, the city population was Geographic location. The city is located in the steppe zone in the north of the Turgay plateau, in the south-eastern part of the West Siberian Plain, on the Tobol River, 571 km north-west of Nur-Sultan city (704 km along the highway). The nearest million-plus city is Russian Chelyabinsk, located 260 km (along the highway over 300 km) to the north-west of Kostanay. Public institutions. In Kostanay , there are five institutions of higher education. There are also 22 high schools which educate over 12,200 students. The state network of culture lists 381 libraries, 201 club establishments, 8 museums, and 2 theatres. Athletic facilities include 2 sports arenas, 26 stadiums, 10 sports complexes and 567 sports halls. Climate. Kostanay has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: "Dfb"), with very warm, dry summers and frigid, snowy winters. The average July temperature is and that in January , although sharp changes in temperature during the day are characteristic. Average wind speed is , mainly from the south in winter  and from the north in summer. Precipitation averages around with a summer maximum. The average annual humidity is 71 percent and the growing season averages about 170 days. Culture. Kostanay has a rich historical-cultural heritage. The regional center includes a Sunni mosque, the Regional Administration Building, Kostanay State University, the Kostanay Regional Memorial Museum of Altynsarin, the Kazakh Drama Theatre, Central Square and a railway station. Historical monuments include the Ybyrai Altynsarin monument, the Akhmet Baitursynov monument, a memorial dedicated to victims of the Second World War, the "Execution wall" (where Alexander Kolchak's army officers were executed by  Red Army soldiers), and the Alexander Pushkin monument. The city has 173 monuments of historical and cultural significance. Of these, 3 are of republican significance, 48 local, 25 obelisks and busts and 97 memorial plaques.[http://kostanay.kostanay.gov.kz/o-gorode/pasport-goroda/ <nowiki></nowiki>] Transportation. Kostanay is connected by road with the following cities in Russia: Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk, Troitsk, Yekaterinburg, Kurgan and Tyumen. It is also connected to Kokshetau, Nur-Sultan and Almaty in Kazakhstan. Fifty-three railway stations carry passengers and cargo from the city. Oil is delivered by rail from Russia as well as oil refineries in Kazakhstan. Kostanay International  Airport handles common and charter flights to many cities in Kazakhstan, former Soviet republics, Germany (Frankfurt and Hanover), the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and other countries. The airport also functions as a local port of entry and customs checkpoint. Sport. Kostanay is home to the FC Tobol football club, based in the Kostanay Central Stadium, which participates in the Kazakhstan Super League. Kostanay also has a basketball team, BK Tobol Kostanay, which participates in the Kazakhstan Basketball Cup. The city has an ice rink for winter sports, and in 2016, a team participated in the national bandy championship in Khromtau  for junior players born in 1999–2000. Twin towns – sister cities. Kostanay is twinned with: