Turkmenistan
Formal name: Turkmenistan.
Short name: Turkmenistan.
Term for Citizens: Turkmenistani(s).
Capital: Ashgabat.
Date of Independence: October 27th, 1991
Area: 488,100 square kilometres.
Time: GMT+5
Topography: 80% of the territory are plains with dominating deserts and 20% is occupied with mountains; the biggest rivers are the Amu-Darya and the Murghab.
Climate: Sharply continental, hot summer and cold winter; humidity is low.
Population: 5 million people in 2010; growth rate is 1.85% a year; 45% of population is urban and 55% is rural; population comprises more than 100 nationalities (tribes), 77% of the population are Turkmen.
Language: Turkmen is official language, but Russian is still commonly used.
Religion: Sunni Muslims - 85 %, other -15%.
Education: Compulsory 7 years education.
Major industries: Natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing, cotton, grain, and livestock.
Main trading partners: CIS, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany, Turkey, and Cyprus.
Money: Manat
Ecology: There is a number of serious environmental problems, such as desertification, contamination of soil and water.
Health: Medical care is limited; however some efficient private practices have been introduced recently.
Culture: Turkmenistan has priceless archaeological finds; lots of historical monuments; traditional handicrafts and famous Turkmen carpets.
Popular tourist destinations: Ashgabat, Kunya Urgench, Merv (Mary) Oasis, Kugitang Nature Reserve, Repetek Biosphere Reserve.
Short name: Turkmenistan.
Term for Citizens: Turkmenistani(s).
Capital: Ashgabat.
Date of Independence: October 27th, 1991
Area: 488,100 square kilometres.
Time: GMT+5
Topography: 80% of the territory are plains with dominating deserts and 20% is occupied with mountains; the biggest rivers are the Amu-Darya and the Murghab.
Climate: Sharply continental, hot summer and cold winter; humidity is low.
Population: 5 million people in 2010; growth rate is 1.85% a year; 45% of population is urban and 55% is rural; population comprises more than 100 nationalities (tribes), 77% of the population are Turkmen.
Language: Turkmen is official language, but Russian is still commonly used.
Religion: Sunni Muslims - 85 %, other -15%.
Education: Compulsory 7 years education.
Major industries: Natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing, cotton, grain, and livestock.
Main trading partners: CIS, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany, Turkey, and Cyprus.
Money: Manat
Ecology: There is a number of serious environmental problems, such as desertification, contamination of soil and water.
Health: Medical care is limited; however some efficient private practices have been introduced recently.
Culture: Turkmenistan has priceless archaeological finds; lots of historical monuments; traditional handicrafts and famous Turkmen carpets.
Popular tourist destinations: Ashgabat, Kunya Urgench, Merv (Mary) Oasis, Kugitang Nature Reserve, Repetek Biosphere Reserve.
Turkmenistan though a very new name in the recent history has a very old history that dates back to 1800 BC and is sister to cultures of Indus Valley Civilisation and Sialk Tepe culture. It was an important part of the Achaemenian Empire down to the invading armies of Alexander the Great. Iranian culture had great impact on this land – till the invasions of Turkic tribes whereas the Oghuz Turkmens became the masters of the land when Seljuk empire flourished on its soil and cities of Merve and Kunya Urgench excelled in literature and culture till the devastating impact of the Mongol armies. A new Turkmen culture emerged out of the Mongol confederation. Karakum is the world’s driest desert that covers a large part of Turkmenistan. It has the shores of the Caspian Sea the largest water body in the land. It was the imperial arm of Russian empire that invaded the free moving Turkmen tribes and later was part of Soviet Union whose breakup resulted in the formation of an independent Turkmenistan in 1991.