Sharks hatch out in Kazakh steppe

Kazakhstan is trying to promote its new capital

The first-ever baby sharks have been born in Kazakhstan - in what may be the world's most remote major aquarium.

The capital, Astana, displayed six cat sharks hatched so far in its Sea Life Aquarium - some 3,000km (1,900 miles) away from the nearest sea.

The sharks' mothers were specially flown in from South-East Asia in 2003.

The giant aquarium aims to draw crowds to President Nursultan Nazarbayev's new capital located deep in the Kazakh steppe, close to Russia's Siberia.

More than 2,500 species of marine life were brought to the aquarium that holds some 3.5 million litres of water.

Some 120 tons of sea salt dissolved in the giant tank make the water sealike, local experts say.

The aquarium is part of a number of attractions intended to draw tourists to the city, which for much of the year endures sub-zero temperatures.

Mr Nazarbayev, who has been in power since Kazakhstan became independent in 1991, shocked the nation when he moved the capital from Almaty to Astana in 1998.

Controversy surrounded the costly project, especially at a time when the Kazakh economy was in a steep decline.