Interesting facts

Here are some lesser known but fascinating facts about Turkmenistan:

Vast Desert Landscape: Approximately 80% of Turkmenistan’s territory is covered by the Karakum Desert, spanning around 350,000 square kilometers. This expansive sand desert defines much of the country’s geography.

White Marble Capital: The capital city, Ashgabat, is renowned for its stunning white marble architecture. It boasts the highest concentration of white marble buildings globally, with many of its significant structures, including public squares and residential areas, adorned with this elegant stone. The city’s numerous sculptures and lamp posts are also gilded, giving Ashgabat a fairy-tale appearance reminiscent of Eastern legends.

Karakum Canal: The Karakum Canal, stretching 1,100 kilometers, holds the title of the longest artificial canal in the world.

Historic Meteorite: On June 20, 1998, a meteorite fell near the city of Kunya-Urgench. Weighing nearly one ton and estimated to be over 4 billion years old, it is the third-largest meteorite globally and the largest in the CIS. The meteorite is now displayed at the State Museum of the Turkmen Cultural Center in Ashgabat.

Natural Gas Reserves: Turkmenistan ranks second in the CIS, after Russia, and fourth globally in natural gas reserves, behind Russia, Iran, and Qatar. This abundance plays a crucial role in the country’s economy.

Kutlug Timur Minaret: In Kunya-Urgench, the Kutlug Timur Minaret stands as the tallest minaret in Central Asia, reaching a height of 67 meters.

Grand Mosque: The «Turkmenbashi Spirituality» Mosque, located in the ancestral village of Niyazov-Kipchak, is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Completed in 2004, it cost over $100 million and covers an area of 7,000 square meters. Each of its four minarets reaches a height of 80 meters.

Door to Hell: In 1971, Soviet geologists drilling near the village of Darvaza accidentally uncovered a gas-filled cavern, leading to a large collapse and creating a massive pit. To prevent the escape of toxic gases, the pit was set alight. Contrary to expectations, the fire still burns today, with flames reaching 10-15 meters high. This unique feature is known locally as the «Door to Hell.»

Saline Features: The Karabogaz-Gol bay, the saltiest part of the Caspian Sea, has a unique salinity different from the Caspian itself due to its high content of Glauber’s salt. Its extreme salinity prevents it from freezing even at temperatures as low as -10°C.

Dinosaur Plateau: Near the village of Khoja-Pil, the Koytendag Plateau reveals dinosaur footprints dating back 150 million years to the Upper Jurassic period. This site, which holds around 2,500 tracks, is the most significant collection of dinosaur footprints in the world.

Turkmen Carpet Museum: Ashgabat is home to the world’s only Turkmen Carpet Museum, featuring a giant carpet called «Turkmen Kalby» (Soul of the Turkmen) created between 1941-1942, measuring 193.5 square meters. Subsequent giant carpets, including a 294-square-meter piece weighing over one ton, are displayed in the Ruhyyet Palace and recognized in the Guinness World Records.

Silver Jewelry Tradition: Turkmen brides are known for their elaborate silver jewelry, which constitutes the largest collection of traditional silver adornments in the world.

Subsidized Benefits: Turkmenistan provides free utilities (electricity, gas, water, and city telephone), 120 liters of gasoline per month, half the cost of modern apartments for civil servants, salt, and children’s camps to its citizens.

Expansive Health Camps: Modern Turkmenistan is known for constructing large-scale children’s health camps and resorts, surpassing even Soviet-era facilities. For example, 15 enormous camps were built near Chuli, with free accommodations for children.

Akhal-Teke Horses: The Akhal-Teke horse, celebrated as Turkmenistan’s pride and national treasure, is depicted at the center of the national emblem. This purebred, ancient breed is known for its speed, elegance, and endurance, thriving in the harsh desert climate and achieving speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour. The breed is also unique for its golden-buckskin coat.

Equestrian Festival: Every April’s last Sunday marks the «Turkmen Horse Festival,» featuring grand parades of champion horses and various equestrian competitions, showcasing both traditional and modern sports involving horses.

Culinary Tradition: In Central Asia, Turkmenistan is the only country where horse meat is not consumed due to the sacred status of horses, a tradition officially recognized since 1986.

Low Taxation: Turkmenistan boasts a minimal tax rate for private enterprises and individual entrepreneurs, with a single gross income tax rate of just 2%.