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A virtual guide to Turkmenistan, a country in Central Asia, east of the Caspian Sea, south of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and north of Iran and Afghanistan. Turkmenistan occupies an area of 488,100 km², compared it is slightly smaller than Spain, or slightly larger than the US state of California. About 70% of the country is covered by the uninhabitated Karakum, a desert with a barren flat-to-rolling landscape and sand dunes, the terrain is rising to the Turkmen-Khorasan Mountain Range (Kopet Dag) in south west, the mountains separate the country from Iran. Highest point is Aýrybaba with 3,138 m (10,295 ft), situated in the Köýtendag Range on the border with Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan is sparsely populated, with a population of just 5.4 million people (in 2016). Capital and largest city is Ashgabat (Aşgabat). Ethnic groups are Turkmen (85%) Uzbek (5%) and Russian (4%). Spoken languages are Turkmen (official) and Russian (as an inter-ethnic language). Main religions are Muslim 84% and Eastern Orthodox 17%. |
Turkmenistan - Türkmenistan |
Country Profile |
Background: Present-day Turkmenistan covers territory that has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The area was ruled in antiquity by various Persian empires, and was conquered by Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1925. It achieved its independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 and was ruled by President NIYAZOV from 1985 until his death in 2006. NIYAZOV retained absolute control over the country and opposition was not tolerated. Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential election in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW emerged as the country's new president; he was reelected in February 2012 with 97% of the vote, in an election widely regarded as "a democratic sham." Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited, have begun to transform the country. In 2010, new gas export pipelines that carry Turkmen gas to China and to northern Iran began operating, effectively ending the Russian monopoly on Turkmen gas exports. (Source: CIA - The World Factbook and others) |
Official Name: Turkmenistan also known as Turkmenia ISO Country Code: tm, tkm Country Calling Code: +993 Capital City: Ashgabat (pop. 700 000) Other Cities: Türkmenabat (2900 000), Dashoguz (166 000), Mary (125,000), Türkmenbashi (55 000) Government: Type: Republic, with a single-party system; the 'Democratic' Party of Turkmenistan, is the only one legally permitted. Independence: 27 October 1991 (from USSR). Constitution: 18 May 1992. Geography: Location: central Asia, bordered by the Caspian Sea to the west. Area: 488,100 km² (188,456 sq mi). Terrain: Flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south. The Kara Kum (Garagum) desert comprises 80% of the country's total area. Climate: Subtropical desert. People: Nationality: Turkmenistani Population: 5.4 million (2016 est.) Ethnic Groups: Turkmen 85%, Russians 7%, Uzbeks 5%, other 3% Religions: Sunni Muslim Languages: Turkmen. Russian is widely spoken. Literacy: 98% Natural resources: Oil, natural gas, coal, precious non-ferrous and rare metals, celestine, sulfur. Agriculture products: Cotton, wheat, melons; livestock. Industries: Natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing. Exports - commodities: gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, textiles, cotton fiber Exports - partners: China 68.6%, Turkey 4.9% (2015) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs Imports - partners: Turkey 24.9%, Russia 12.3%, China 10.9%, UAE 9.1%, Kazakhstan 5.1%, Germany 4.6%, Iran 4.4% (2015) Currency: 1 Manat = 100 Tenesi (TMM) Turkmenistan in Figures Turkmenistan key statistical data. (Source: Embassy of Turkmenistan in the US and others) |
Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of TurkmenistanTurkmenistan Government Portal Official website of Turkmenistan's government, with news, "Turkmenistan: the golden age". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Official site of Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic Missions Embassy of Turkmenistan Washington, D.C. MapsMap of TurkmenistanPolitical Map of Turkmenistan. Administrative Map of Turkmenistan Map of Administrative Divisions of Turkmenistan. Google Earth Turkmenistan Searchable map and satellite view Turkmenistan. Google Earth Ashgabat Searchable map and satellite view of Turkmenistan's capital city. Map of the Caspian Sea Caucasus and Central Asia Map Map of Central Asia and the Caucasus region. Map of Asia Reference Map of Asia. Image: David Stanley |
Turkmenistan NewsThe Times of Central Asia Turkmenistan news. Turkmenistan.News.Net More Turkmenistan news. Gundogar.org Turkmenistan.ru Local news (Russian/English) News in Turkmen language The Turkmen News Turkmen daily news magazine. International Newssources News Central Asia US based news agency focused at the Greater Central Asian region. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Turkmen Service Turkmenistan related news by Radio Free Europe. washingtonpost.com: Turkmenistan Turkmenistan News. Google News Search: Turkmenistan Find news from Turkmenistan. |
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Arts & CultureAkhal-Teke Legendary Turkmen Horses. Turkmen Rugs and Carpets Turkmen applied art. Chronicles of Turkmenistan Magazine of the "Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights". Legends and Facts of Dashoguz Article about "Turkmenistan - the Land of Rich Spiritual and Cultural Values", a conference held in the 'Cultural Capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2016', the city of Dashoguz. Ruhnama Wikipedia page about the Book of the Soul, written by Saparmurat Niyazov, late president-for-life of Turkmenistan (1990-2006). (An official government website) |
Business & EconomyTurkmenistan's economy is largely based on gas and oil. The country possesses the world's fourth-largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources.Central Bank of Turkmenistan Turkmenistan's Central Bank. Nebit-Gaz Online newspaper of the Oil and Gas Complex of Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan - Analytic magazine The monthly magazine provides some business information. |
Image: Peretz Partensky Travel and Tour Consumer Information
Destination Turkmenistan - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover Turkmenistan: Altyndepe (Bronze Age site, a Zoroastrian Ziggurat), Aýrybaba (highest mountain in Turkmenistan), Gonur Tepe (archaeological site), Konya-Urgench, Merv Oasis and the Great Kyz Kala, Darvaza gas crater, Turkmenbashi, the ancient city of Nisa, World of Turkmenbashi Tales (Ashgabat Theme Park), Repetek Biosphere State Reserve. Turkmenistan says that it strives to develop tourism, especially in the "Awaza National Tourist Zone" on the Caspian Sea coast in western Turkmenistan. But the country’s tourism sector is so small that the Swiss-based World Economic Forum’s 'Travel and Tourism Competitiveness' ranking did not even list Turkmenistan. Anur Tour Central Asia tour operator. Ashgabat Gazette A foreigners guide to Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan Chaihana Made to spread information about Turkmenistan, maintained by former Turkmenistan Peace Corps volunteer Greg Lastowka. Turkmen International A guide to Turkmenistans culture. |
EducationAshgabat International School Information about the private non-profit institution. Turkmen State University Ashgabat, the university does not maintain a homepage. |
Environment & NatureCurrent issues: Contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, desertification. Water logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; Diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea. UNDP in Turkmenistan The United Nations Development Programme supports the Government in achieving environmental goals through assistance in developing environmental policies and in promoting best practices in water and sanitation. |
HistoryHistory of Turkmenistan Article about Turkmenistan's history. Culture, Traditions, and History of Turkmenistan Overview on Turkmenistan's culture and history. History of Turkmenistan Wikipedia entry on Turkmenistan's history. |
Other Countries in South-Central Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
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