Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan This energy-rich Central Asian country revives its most ancient rituals and customs, and discovers old taboos that were thinly papered over during Communist rule. The Turkmens are famous for their horses, breeding and training, so much so that Princess Anne from Britain purchased some of these horses. Also, when it comes to art and culture, carpet making is by far the most predominat symbol of Turkmen traditional political, social, cultural and religious views.

Area: 488.341 Km²
Population: 4.603.000 (2001 est.)
Density: 9,5 pop/Km²

System of government: Presidential Republic
Capital: Ashgabat (518.000 pop.)
Major cities: Cardzev 70.000 pop., Dashovuz 42.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Turkmen 68%, Russian 13%, Uzbek 9%
Border countries: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan NORTH, Afghanistan and Iran SOUTH

Principal mountains: Gora Reza 2942 m
Principal rivers: Amudarja 2540 Km (total, with tajikistani, afghan and uzbekistani tracts)
Principal lakes: Caspian Sea 371.000 Km² (with russian, azerbaijani, iranian and kazakhstani parts), Sariqamish Kuli 800 Km² (with uzbekistani part)
Principal islands: Ostrov Ogurchinskiy
Climate: Continental - arid

Language: Turkmen (official), Uzbek, Russian
Religion: Muslim 85%, Eastern Orthodox 10%
Currency: Turkmen Manat (TMM)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 19/2, 8/3, 21/3, 9/5, 18/5, 6/10, 27/10, 28/10, 12/12
Dialling code: 00993
GMT: +5

World Heritage List:

• State Historical and Cultural Park "Ancient Merv" (1999)
• Kunya-Urgench (2005)