Balkanabad

Balkanabat is a small town with a population of approximately 88,000 residents at the southern foothills of the Greater Balkhan mountain range in western Turkmenistan. Located just 13 kilometers northwest of the town is the port of Turkmenbashi, while an airport serves the area nearby, making Balkanabat a well-connected urban center.

The town’s history dates back to 1933 when significant oil deposits were discovered in the region. This event spurred the foundation of the settlement, which was later granted city status in 1946. Originally named Nebit-Dag, meaning «Oil Mountain,» the city was renamed Balkanabat in 1999. Today, Balkanabat is rapidly expanding and developing into a major industrial hub. Already recognized as the capital of Turkmenistan’s oil and gas industry, the city’s symbol is fittingly represented by a monument featuring the silhouette of a flame against the backdrop of a mountain.

Balkanabat’s history is closely intertwined with the exploitation of major oil fields such as Goturdepe, Barsagelmes, and Nebitdag. After World War II, there was a pressing need for oil and gas reserves, which led to the growth of the region. The first settlers in the area faced challenging conditions, often living in tents and yurts, sometimes without electricity or hot water. In honor of these pioneering geologists, the city erected the «Trailblazers» (Explorers of the Desert) architectural and memorial ensemble, one of the city’s main attractions. Another notable landmark is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, founded in 1990.

Covering a vast area, the Balkan region, or velayat, is the largest in Turkmenistan. Spanning 139,000 square kilometers, it comprises 28.4% of the country’s total land area. The region is divided into six districts, with seven cities, 16 towns, and 40 villages. Balkanabat serves as the administrative center of this expansive region, which was granted city status in 1946 under its original name, Nebit-Dag, meaning «Oil Mountain.»

The Balkan region is particularly fascinating for archaeologists. Along the northern slopes of the Kopetdag mountains, researchers have discovered Neolithic and Mesolithic human settlements dating back to the 12th to 7th millennia BCE. One of the most significant ancient cultural centers in the Balkan region is Dehistan, located in the Misrian Valley at the lower reaches of the Etrek River. From the late third millennium BCE, irrigated agriculture flourished here for over three thousand years until the water sources eventually dried up.

The main city of Dehistan, Mashat-Misrian, reached its peak during the Islamic period. This area is home to the oldest surviving mosque in Turkmenistan, now known as Shir-Kabir or Mashat-ata. Despite the fact that the ruins of Dehistan are lost in a desolate desert, pilgrims still make their way to this sacred site. Though the Balkan region is vast, tourist routes are well-established.

One notable site is located 38 kilometers from Balkanabat, near the Tasharvat spring. Here, the picturesque ruins of the medieval Tasharvat caravanserai can be found, surrounded by a scenic grove of ancient elm trees, some of which are hundreds of years old. The caravanserai once stood along one of the many branches of the Great Silk Road. The building itself is a rectangular fortress with stone walls, and within its confines are the remnants of residential structures. Historical records first mention the Tasharvat fortification in 1871-1872. Research indicates that the structure was still inhabited at the end of the 19th century.