Sights of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is perhaps one of the most interesting countries in Central Asia. Being a cradle of many cultures and civilizations, an important center of the Great Silk Road, the territory of Turkmenistan is literally saturated with monuments of history and culture, the distinctive population lives here and centuries-old traditions are maintained; there are unique natural complexes and extremely diverse landscape forms, from the picturesque mountain ranges to lifeless At first glance, the sands of the desert, from green oases to the multi-kilometer sea coast.
Capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan – Ashgabat.
Around the capital also a lot of interesting places. Scientists argue that the oasis of the premediations were the place of formation of not one of the civilization of antiquity, and the sands of the desert hide unique monuments of history and culture. 12 kilometers southeast Ashgabat lies an archaeological site Anaau depiece (IV-III thousand. years to N. NS.) And the fortress Anau (III B. to N. NS. – III B. N. NS.), as well as the ruins of the same medieval city with a mosque. 18 km west of Ashgabat lies a unique monument of history – the ruins of the capital of the ancient Parthian state, known now as Nisa (Connausay, III in. to N. NS. – III B. N. NS.). The small territory of the ancient city found a huge number of unique items of the past, including 2,700 plates from clay with inscriptions, the ruins of the ancient fortress Mithridatert (area of about 14 hectares), the remains of urban quarters, temples, palaces, archive of economic documents, works of art, etc.
Lying in the Green Gorge, 30 km south-west of Ashgabat, Hunting Residence of the Persian Royal Fullies Family, is a popular mountain resort, a real rescue from high temperatures nearby plains. A Mountain Pedestrian Track "SERDAOR-ELY" passes through the most picturesque places of Copetdag. Nearby is famous Banchandan cave With a huge underground Lake Cow-Ata ("Father lakes", area of about 3 thousand. kv. m). Water in the lake all year round has a temperature of about + 36’C and is saturated with a huge amount of salts, starting with sulfide, and ending with Bor, manganese, bromine, etc. Now Cow Ata has the status of the National Reserve, since in addition to the lake, in the cave there is the largest colony of volatile mice in the CIS countries.
The first agricultural settlements appeared in Murgab Delta in the VII Millennium BC. NS. In 1992. Excavations revealed a huge necropolis attractions of Turkmenistan: Gonor-dependour depiece. A major trading point on a great silk path between Nichapur and Merv, Serakhs lies in the center of a small oasis located in the upper flow of the Teden River. The cave city of Ekedeshik, located in the Tagta Bazar area, has the status of a state historical and architectural reserve.
Kunya Urgench – Architectural Reserve, lying 480 km north of Ashgabat. Cultural and historical monuments of the country also include the ruins of the city Amul, known since the time of the Parthian kingdom (not far from Charges), the ancient cities Anese, Anau, Tagta, Cherkis and Ovadan-depiece.
The city of Port Turkmenbashi (former Krasnovodsk) is the only major port in all Central Asia, providing communication with European countries. The most popular among holidaymakers on the coast city Khazar and suburb of Turkmenbashi – Avaza, Resort town, in the sanatoriums of the preventive measures of various pulmonary diseases are held. There is also a number of coastal tourist sites of recreation. In the Balkan velayat there is a beautiful subtropical zone of the country – Skumbar Valley with green groves and famous oak old-timers in the village Garygala.
Mysrian Plain – One of the most unusual places in Turkmenistan. There was no intensive construction here, for agricultural work, these lands are also unsuitable, so many monuments of history have been preserved here. The earliest traces of human activity on these, once fertile lands belong to the middle of the II millennium BC. At that time, the largest settlements of the ancient civilizations – Madhau-deposites, otkusykyljez, and there were the most powerful irrigation system in all Central Asia existed. This historical region is widely known as highcases, flourished during the achemenids, in the Parphic Epoch, during Sasanids, and in the Islamic period reached the highest heyday. The ruins of brilliant once cities are preserved to this day Judzhan and dechistan, but scientists believe that the sands of the desert hide many more unexplored.
Ruins Caravan Sarag Tashharvat Located 38 km from g. Balkanabat, the administrative center of the Balkan velayat, from the Spring of the same name. Caravan Saray is a rectangular strengthening with a stone wall, the ruins of residential build are located inside. The location of the caravan-shed on one of the ancient caravanways in the Large Balcan area gives a reason to think that this may have been one of the many branches of the Great Silk Road.
Around famous Cushion Concentrated about two hundred historical and architectural monuments. Among them, special attention deserves Abivend – One of the cities of Northern Horasan, who has repeatedly mentioned in the annals of the Arab conquest, the only zigarat in the country – Altyn-Depth Fortress ("Golden Holm", III-II millennium BC. NS.), famous for its artistic monuments an ancient settlement Gara-depiece (III millennium BC. NS.), as well as archaeological site Namazga-depiece (III-II millennium BC. NS.) and referring to modernity, but this is no less interesting Badhiz Reserve.
Gaurdak town is located in the foothills of the Kugitangtau Range, in the eastern of Turkmenistan. These mountain places that are replete with fields of measures and polymetals are amazingly beautiful, and contain many gorges, waterfalls and cave complexes. Cugitang Nature Reserve, located directly on the border with Uzbekistan, on the Koldazapil Plateau, is the pride of the country – at an altitude of 2500 m here is the famous "Plateau dinosaur", where about one and a half hundred traces of these prehistoric animals were found. It is assumed that 150 million years ago, in the Jurassic period, the plateau was the bottom of the shallow lagoon, according to which dinosaurs took place, leaving their traces, as it turned out, forever. By the way, the mysterious traces of man or human-like creatures were found next to the traces of Jurassic monsters. Here you can see the highest point in Turkmenistan – Irebab Peak (Aira-Baba, 3139 m), the Grand Canyon Um-Bar-Depteen with waterfalls 28 m high, unique thermal source Kaynar-Baba, Canyon Kyrk-Gyz and numerous karst caves.
Natural attractions include country Bay Kara-Bog Gol, Ancient Rod of Uzboy, Carnish caves On the western slope of the Kugitang-Tau Ridge (about 60 underground halls), ancient Mud Vulcan Boyadag (13 km from Dakhistan), sheer discharges Big Balkhana (height of up to 900 m), a colony of freshwater crabs in the source of Chalce in a small balkhan, ancient pistachio forests in Copetdag Reserve, Badhiz basin and unique Wpadin EP-Oylan-Duz – Surrounded by 300 meter clay cliffs, almost entirely occupied by the salty lake and salt marshes, among which low, but colorful cones of the ancient volcanoes rise.
Turkmen, beautiful riders themselves, for centuries, have greatly appreciated the good horses and considered them their friends. This "passion" Preserved to this day and now horses – one of the main attractions of the country. Famous "Fast as wind" Akhaltechi glorified the country to the whole world, on the coat of arms of the state, even depicted by Akhalteinsky horse. It is really a unique breed – fast, graceful, with accurate "Swan" neck and thin "dry" legs, these horses are also surprisingly hardy. Travel companies in the country have developed more than 20 equestrian routes that swept almost the entire country – from visiting monuments of civilizations of the Parthian Kingdom, Merva and the picturesque mountainous areas of the country, to the Amudarya River. Also possible routes along the Karakum canal, the largest artificial channel in the world, with a visit to the caves and the dinosaur plateau, but due to higher temperatures in these areas, such campaigns require special training.
