Akmola Region ( ) is a centrally located
region of
Kazakhstan. Its capital is
Kokshetau. The national capital,
Astana, is enclosed by the region, but is politically separate from Akmola Region. The region's population is 748,300; Kokshetau's is 124,000. The area is 146,200 square kilometers. It and
Karaganda Region are Kazakhstan's only two regions which don't touch the country's outer borders. Akmola Region borders
North Kazakhstan Region in the north,
Pavlodar Region in the east, Karagandy Region in the south, and
Kostanay Region in the west. Some
gold and
coal mining occur in the area.