Baikonur (Russian: Байконур [bəjkɐˈnur]; Kazakh: Байқоңыр, romanized: Baiqoñyr [bɑjqoˈŋɤr]) is a city in Kazakhstan on the northern bank of the Syr Darya river.

(The original Baikonur's residents took advantage of the confusion by ordering and receiving many scarce materials before government officials discovered the deception.

The U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance plane found and photographed the Tyuratam missile test range (cosmodrome Baikonur) for the first time on 5 August 1957.

Summers are hot with July highs averaging slightly over 34 °C (93 °F), while winters are cold, with longer periods of sustained below-freezing temperatures.

[12] South of city center, near the Syr Darya River there is a large park with several sports and amusement facilities.