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Description Turkmenistan by rbd.me
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Eastern Turkmenistan for centuries formed part of the Persian province of Khurasan; in medieval times Merv (today known as Mary) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were to be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to diversify its gas export routes beyond the existing Russian pipeline network. President for Life Saparmurat NYYAZOW died in December 2006, and Turkmenistan held its first multi-candidate presidential electoral process in February 2007. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOW, a vice premier under NYYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president.
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Location
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Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
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Area - comparative
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slightly larger than California
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Natural resources Turkmenistan
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flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
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Population Turkmenistan
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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
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Religions Turkmenistan
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Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)
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Languages
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Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
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Education Turkmenistan expenditures
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Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
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Government Turkmenistan type
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3.9% of GDP (1991)
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Independence
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5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty
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Turkmenistan Economy - overview
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green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe; the green color and crescent moon represent Islam, the five stars symbolize the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan
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Investment Turkmenistan
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40.8 (1998)
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Industries Turkmenistan
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2.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
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Airports Turkmenistan
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Turkmenbasy
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