Astana (briefly known as Nur-Sultan) is the second-coldest capital city in the world, after Ulaanbaatar. Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country and is home to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world's first and largest operational space launch facility, which is still leased by Russia today. The capital, Astana, is famous for its futuristic architecture designed by global architects like Norman Foster, including the 'Bayterek' tower and the 'Khan Shatyr,' the world's largest tent structure. Geographically, Kazakhstan is incredibly diverse, ranging from the vast Kazakh Steppe to the 'Singing Dunes' of Altyn-Emel National Park, where the sand emits a low humming sound in dry weather. The country is a leading global producer of uranium and has been a bridge between European and Asian cultures for centuries.