Salam! Welcome to the golden land of Central Asia—Turkmenistan, a nation defined by its vast deserts and ancient Silk Road history. There are around 7,000,000 people living here, and the capital is Ashgabat, a city famous for having the highest concentration of white marble buildings in the world. The official language is Turkmen, a Turkic language closely related to Turkish and Azerbaijani.
Turkmenistan covers about 491,210 square kilometers (189,660 square miles). That’s roughly the same size as the state of California or about twice the size of the United Kingdom. About 80% of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert, one of the driest regions in the world, while the south is bordered by the rugged Kopet Dag mountains.
The most popular sports are Football and Goresh (traditional Turkmen wrestling), though the nation is most famous for its equestrian culture. Their national animal is the Akhal-Teke Horse, one of the oldest and most beautiful horse breeds in the world, known for its metallic “golden” sheen and incredible endurance.
The flag consists of a deep green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist containing five traditional carpet guls (patterns) and two olive branches, with a white crescent and five stars in the upper corner, where the green and crescent represent Islam, the stars stand for the five regions of the country, and the carpet guls symbolize the famous Turkmen textile heritage.
The food is hearty and influenced by nomadic traditions. You must try Plov, a fragrant rice dish cooked with meat, carrots, and spices in a large cauldron. Another favorite is Ishlekli, often called a “shepherd’s pie,” which consists of two layers of dough filled with meat and onions, traditionally baked in hot sand. For a snack, try Gutap, a flatbread stuffed with spinach or meat. Because of the desert climate, Melons are a national pride; Turkmenistan grows over 400 varieties, and they even have a national holiday dedicated to them!
Turkmenistan is home to the Darvaza Gas Crater, famously known as the “Door to Hell,” a natural gas field that has been burning continuously since 1971. The country features Merv, once one of the largest cities in the world and a major hub on the ancient Silk Road. You can visit the Independence Monument in Ashgabat, surrounded by statues of historical Turkmen heroes. For a natural wonder, head to the Yangykala Canyons, which feature stunning pink, red, and yellow rock walls that look like a “frozen sea.” Interestingly, Turkmenistan has the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world!
From the shimmering marble of Ashgabat to the nomadic spirit of the Karakum, Turkmenistan is a land of mystery and golden horizons. Sag boluň! That means “Thank you!”