About Turkmenistan
Located to the South-Western part of Central Asia or the “Stans”, the southernmost territory of the former Soviet Union between Iran and Afghanistan to the South-west, Uzbekistan to the East, Kazakhstan to the North and the Caspian Sea to the West, Turkmenistan is a unique country. It is the land of ancient civilizations from the Bronze Age to the early Silk Road period. Prehistoric towns like ancient Merv, Nissa, Anew and Kunye Urgench, the ruins of which are spotted all over the country were main stopovers on the Great Silk Road.
Saryk and Chowdur, who kidnapped men from the territories of Russia and Persia and supplied the slave markets of Khiva and Bukhara, once roamed the Karakum,” black-sand” desert», that makes up 80 % of the country. The desert is rich in flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to this region. Some stunning natural landscapes like limestone canyons, karst caves, salt lakes and mineral springs can be found in the mountainous and deep in the desert areas of this country. Ashgabat, “the city of lovers”, the marbled metropolis with world’s biggest number of white marbled buildings with futuristic architecture is the country’s capital located just a few kilometers from the border with Iran. Nowadays the world famous carpets of Turkmen carpet weavers, Ahalteke horses, embroidery and jewelry of local artisans and humble, hospitable Turkmen locals make it worth a visit of this beautiful country.
Quick Turkmenistan facts
Area |
488, 100.sq km (slightly bigger than Sweden or the state of California). |
Capital |
Ashgabat |
Time: |
GMT + 5:00. |
Country Code: |
+993. |
Languages: |
Turkmen, Uzbek, Russian. |
Currency: Manat (TMM) |
US$1 = 4,26 Manat (March,2017). |
Population |
5,3 million |
Phrases |
Hello (salawmaleykim); Thank you (Sag bolun), good bye ( Hosh sag bolun). |
Ethnic Groups: |
85% Turkmen, 5% Uzbek, 4% Russian and 6% others. |
Turkmenistan hosts a vast number of fascinating monuments from the time of the Bronze Age, the Early Silk Road Era through to the arrival of the Mongolian armies, when Margush, Nissa, Merw and Kunya Urgench were centers of the Bactrian-Margianian civilization, and of the Parthian, Seljuk and Khorezm empires respectively.
The development of a distinct Turkmen national identity started with the arrival of the first Turkic peoples into the region in the 10th century. Their descendants established the various Turkmen tribes, such as the. Through the centuries the Turkmen people have managed to retain their tribal peculiarities and traditions. the values that still mark Turkmen people today. Turkmen artisans still practice centuries-old crafts, from carpet to jewelry making and silk weaving.
And although almost 80% of Turkmenistan is made up of desert, Turkmenistan also offers surprisingly impressive and varied landscapes, flora and fauna. Subtropical forest valleys, limestone canyons, karst caves and salt lakes can be found in the mountainous parts of the country. The numerous mineral springs that can be found throughout the country can be enjoyed at several excellent sanatoria. And Awaza at the Caspian Sea offers top quality resorts at the beach.
We invite you to visit Turkmenistan, where you can experience nature's beauty and historical monuments, where old traditions come alive and where you can step from an ancient culture into the world of modern post -independence architecture, where hospitality and friendliness of the Turkmen people are as warm and constant as the hot rays of the Sun.