The State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted on 4 June 1992, designed by Shaken Niyazbekov, and replacing the Soviet-era flag. == Description == The national flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan has a gold sun with 32 rays (representing the 32 ethnicities of the Turkic people) above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centred on a turquoise background; the hoist side displays a national ornamental pattern called "koshkar-muiz" (the horns of the ram) in gold; the blue colour is of religious significance to the Turkic peoples of the country, and so symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity; it also represents the endless sky as well as water.