10 youngest capitals in the world
On May 21, 1712, Peter I moved the capital of Russia from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The transfer of capitals in the world is not a unique phenomenon, and even not uncommon. Capitals are still being moved - for various geographical, strategic, and sometimes more peculiar reasons. We invite you to get acquainted with the ten youngest capitals of the world.
1. Republic of Palau
The capital was moved to Ngerulmud, Melekeok State in 2006. The former capital - Koror - was considered temporary. According to the 1979 Palau constitution, it was necessary to decide on a permanent capital within 10 years. The new capital was chosen already in 1986, but officially Ngerulmud became the capital only in 2006, when the construction of the Capitol was completed (pictured).
2. Myanmar
In 2005, the capital was moved to Naypyidaw. The name of the city is translated as "Royal Country". It was built on the site of the village of Chepyi, 17 kilometers west of the city of Pyinmana. The exact reason for the transfer of the capital is unknown. Here, both strategic considerations and considerations of domestic policy could play, or even the advice of astrologers, which often happened in the history of the country. The former capital is Yangon.
3. Kazakhstan
Astana has been the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997. The official reason for the postponement is to ensure favorable and accelerated development of the country's interior regions. The former capital - Alma-Ata - is geographically located in the south, and not in the center of the republic, it has exhausted the possibilities of its further development and has become dangerous in environmental and seismic terms.
4. Arab Palestine
Ramallah - was formed in 1994 in the West Bank region of the Jordan River, as the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority and the capital of the partially recognized State of Palestine.
5. Tanzania
In 1993, Dodoma became the official capital of Tanzania. The residences of the government and the president of the country were moved to Dodoma, but foreign embassies, as well as most government agencies, industrial enterprises, banks and offices, remained in the former capital, Dar es Salaam.
6. Nigeria
The transfer of the capital to Abuja took place in 1991. In choosing the site for the new capital, Nigerian President Murtala Mohammed sought to create a city that would not be dominated by any one ethnic, social or religious group. The former capital is Lagos.
7. Germany
Berlin was chosen from the two capitals at the unification of the state in 1990. The second is the "unselected" capital of Germany - Bonn.
8. Ivory Coast
The capital was moved to Yamoussoukro in 1983. The reason for the transfer is simple - Yamoussoukro is the hometown of the country's first president, Houphouet-Boigny. The former capital is Abidjan.
9. Sri Lanka
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - separated in 1982 from the former capital - Colombo, which still performs part of the capital's functions.
10. Philippines
Manila - merged in 1976 with the former capital - Quezon City, forming the so-called Greater Manila - National Capital Region.