Turkmenistan (Turkmenistan) is a country located in the southwest of the region called Central Asia, the continent of Eurasia. The area of Turkmenistan is limited: from the west - by the waters of the southern waters of the Caspian Sea, from the northwest - by the territory of Kazakhstan, from the north and northeast of the country is Uzbekistan, in the southwest - Afghanistan, and in the south - Iran.
491200
This is the area of Turkmenistan in square kilometers. The territory is not small, considering that the country is the 53rd in terms of this indicator in the world.
Unfortunately, a significant part of the area is covered by the sands of the Karakum desert and the stony wastelands of the Kopetdag mountains. The big problem is water. Open reservoirs make up only 5% of the total area of Turkmenistan and are located near the borders of the country. Saves the system of irrigation canals built during the Soviet Union.
Gas Paradise
However, this state is extremely rich in natural gas and oil. There are 220 oil and gas fields in the country. One of them is the second largest in the world. Therefore, despite the fact thatabout half of the labor force of Turkmenistan is involved in agriculture, the basis of the economy is the gas industry.
Cities of Turkmenistan
Administratively, the country is divided into 5 velayats (regions), which, in turn, are divided into etraps (districts). There are fifty etraps in total.
There are few cities in the country. Most of the territory of Turkmenistan is unsuitable for large settlements desert and rocky-desert areas with very weak water resources. Therefore, despite the fairly populated cities and high birth rates, the population density relative to the entire area of the country is only 10 people per square kilometer.
A town in Turkmenistan receives the status of a city when its population reaches 5,000 inhabitants (compare with the Latvian thousand!). It is also worth noting that almost all cities have several names in the historical perspective. After the collapse of the USSR, all Russian (Soviet) names were replaced by Turkmen, or taking into account the Turkmen pronunciation.
| City | Year of founding | Population (people) | Velayat | Hyakim | Old titles |
| Annau | 1989 | 29606 | Ahal. Capital | – | – |
| Ashgabat | 1881 | over 900000 | The capital of Turkmenistan | Shamuhammet Durdyliev | Askhabad, Poltoratsk |
| Babadaykhan | 1939 | 7130 | Ahal | – | Kirovsk |
| Bayramali | 1884 | 88468 | Mary | Kakamyrat Amanmyradov | Bayram-Ali |
| Balkanabat | 1933 | 120149 | Balkan. Capital | Emin Ashirov | Nefte-Dag, Nebit-Dag |
| Bacherden | 1881 | 24139 | Ahal | – | Baharden, Baharly |
| Bereket | 1895 | 23762 | Balkan | – | Kazanjik, Gazandzhik |
| Gazojak | 1967 | 23454 | Lebap | – | Gaz-Achak |
| Gekdepe | 1878 | 21465 | Ahal | – | Geok-Tepe |
| Gumdag | 1951 | 26238 | Balkan | Nobatgeldi Tashliev | Kum-Dag |
| Gurbansoltan-Eje | 1925 | 27455 | Dashgouz | – | Ilyaly, Yylanly |
| Darganata | 1925 | 7212 | Lebap | – | Dargan-Ata, Birata |
| Dashoguz | 1681 | 275278 | Dashoguz | Nurberdi Cholanov | Tashauz, Dashkhovuz |
| Dyanev | 1925 | 7932 | Lebap | – | Deinau, Galkynysh |
| Yeloten | 1926 | – | Mary | – | Iolotan |
| Kaka | 1897 | 19000 | Ahal | – | Kahk, Kaahk |
| Keneurgench | at least the 2nd century BC e. | 36754 | Dashoguz | – | Kunya-Urgench |
| Kerki | X century | 96720 | Lebap | – | Atamurat |
| Mary | 1884 | 126000 | Mary | Kakamyrat Annakurbanov | Merv |
| Niyazov | 1957 | 7291 | Dashoguz | – | Tezebazar |
| Sakarchaga | 1938 | – | Mary | – | Sakar Chaga |
| Saparmurat Turkmenbashi | 1975 | 6770 | Dashoguz | – | Hanyal, Oktyabrsk |
| Sadie | 1973 | 21160 | Lebap | – | Neftezavodsk |
| Serdar | 1935 | 45000 | Balkan | Khojamyrat Gochmyradov | Kizyl-Arvat |
| Serhetabad | 1890 | 15000 | Mary | – | Gushny, Kushka |
| Tejen | 1925 | 77024 | Ahal | Dovletnazar Mukhammedov | – |
| Turkmenabat | 1511 | 203000 | Lebap | Dovran Ashirov | Chardzhui, Leninsk, Chardzhou, Chardzhev |
| Turkmenbashi | 1869 | 73803 | Balkan | Amangeldi Isaev | Krasnovodsk |
| Khazar | 1950 | 29131 | Balkan | Behirguly Begenjov | Cheleken |
| Esenguly | 1935 | 5823 | Balkan | – | Gasan-Kuli |
| Etrek | 1926 | 6855 | Balkan | – | Kizil-Atrek, Gazilitrek |
All Presidents of Turkmenistan
Post-Soviet Turkmenistan had only two presidents. As in most democratic countries, the president exercises supreme power over the entire area of Turkmenistan. According to the Constitution, the head of state is elected by popular vote for a 7-year term. The number of terms in a row is not limited. However, during Niyazov's rule, constitutional elections were held only once.
| Name | Title | Years of life | Reign time | Party | Career |
| Saparmurat Niyazov | Turkmenbashi (Leader of the Turkmen) | 1940-2006 | 1991-2006 | CPSU, Democratic Party of Turkmenistan | Before: power engineer, party functionary, chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Turkmen SSR, member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, president of the Turkmen SSR |
| Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov | Arkadag (Patron) | Since 1957 | Since 2006 | Democratic Party of Turkmenistan, then non-partisan | Before: dentist, doctorMedical Sciences, University Teacher, Minister of He alth, Deputy Prime Minister |
Unfortunately, according to experts, the presidential power of Turkmenistan is characterized by such concepts as personality cult, authoritarianism and secrecy.
