TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia and is bordering with Uzbekistan to the north and to the west, Kazakhstan to the north, Afghanistan to the south and to the east and Iran to the south. To the west it is washed by the Caspian sea. The total area of the country is 488 100 square km, which makes it one of the largest in Central Asia. These vast lands are mainly low sandy and desert plains, mostly Kara-Kum desert. Kara-Bogas-Gol Gulf is 35 meters lower than the sea level. The main areas of population are stretched along the largest and the most important river of Turkmenistan - Amudaria. The biggest lake is salty Sarykamysh Lake.

Location

Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan.

Geography

Landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau.

Capital

Ashgabat

Climate

Subtropical desert.

Language

Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Monetary Unit

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Largest Cities

Ashqabat, Turkmenabat, Dashkovuz, Mary

Principal rivers

Amu Darya

Places to Visit

Adzhi, Adzhikui, Agach-Arvat, Agar, Ajyyap, Ak, Ak-Altyn, Ak-Bay, Akbogaz, Ak-Bulak, Akdash, Ak-Dashayak

Air Ports

Ashkhabad Airport, Chardzhou Airport, Krasnovodsk Airport, Mary Airport, Tashauz Airport