Turkmenistan
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At a glance
- Region
- Central Asia
- Capital
- Ashgabat
- Population
- 7.5 million (2024)
- Area
- 488,100 km²
- Languages
- Russian, Turkmen
- Currency
- Turkmenistan manat (TMT)
- Drives on the
- right
- Calling code
- +993
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Before you go
Overview
Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia. The largest part of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert. It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Central Asia. It has an autocratic government.
It recorded a population of 5.851 million in 2018 and covers an area of 491,210 km2.
The capital and largest city is Ashgabat. The buildings in the city are white built of marble.
The second-largest city is Turkmenabat the capital of Lebap province.
Wedding Palace, Ashgabat.
History
The land was part of the Persian Empire during the 6th century BC. The country was founded in 1875.
The area was assimilated into Russian Turkestan in 1881 after the Gok Tepe war. The country gained full independence on 27th September 1991.
Food & culture
Turkmen people were traditional nomads. Their culture is mixed with Islam culture.
The crops grown in Turkmenistan include cotton, wheat, corn, grapes, pomegranates, olives and figs. The dishes include manti, kazanlama, shurpa made from mutton broth, dogroma and chorek.
Wildlife
The common wild animals include leopards, bears, mountain sheep, goitered gazelles, seals, wild ass, wild boars, cheetah, porcupine and jackals.
Festivals & events
Memorial Day festival is held at Geok Depe Mosque in memory of the Turkmens murdered during the Geok Depe war.
Nowruz Bayram festival is an Iranian or Persian New Year.
Eid ul-Fitr is held at the end of the Ramadan period.
Things to see
The Darvaza Gas Crater normally called Boor to Hell is a collapse filled with natural gas that was set on fire by geologists to prevent the spread of methane gas and it has been burning ever since then.
Nisa ruins were a historical settlement of the Iranian. Merv ruins also were built during ancient times. There were principal stops during the ancient trade way in the Silk Road.
The Wedding Palace, Independent Monument and Ashgabat National Mosque are places to visit in the country.
Interesting facts
The country has the fourth-largest natural gas reserves in the world.
The most popular religions are Sunni Islam and Russian Orthodox Christianity.
The country’s official language is Turkmen.
