Summary details

Capital:                                                                                                        Ashgabat

Official language                                                                                           Turkmen

Recognized language:                                                                  Russian, Uzbek, Dari

State:                                                                                        Parliamentary republic

 

National Flag:                                                                             

Coats of Arms:                                                                             

Independence                                                                        from theSoviet Union

Declared                                                                                               27 October 1991

Recognized                                                                                          8 December 1991

 

Population:                                                                                                     6,500,000

Density                                                                                                        9.9 per km²

 

Currency                                                        Turkmen Manat  /2,844 manats – 1 USD

Time zone                                                                                               TMT (UTC+5)

 

Vehicle:                                                                                            drives on the right

Internet TLD                                                                                                           .tm

Calling code                                                                                                          +993

Turkmenistan is located in the western part ofCentral Asia, between the latitudes 35º08´ - 42º48´ Northand longitudes 52º 27´- 66º 41´ East.

Total area of the country is 488,100 sq km.Its surface is stretched from West to East on1,100 km and from North to South on650 km.

The important geographical position is specified by its common borders withKazakhstan,Uzbekistan, Afghanistan,Iran & via Caspian sea it neighborsAzerbaijan andRussia.

The northern and centralpart of the country is domain of Karakum desert, about 72 % of its territory (350.000 sq.km). To the south the desert is transformed in foothills of Kopetdag mountains, to south-east in hills of Badhyz and Karabil elevations (northernfoothills of Paropamisus range).

Right bank area of Amudarya river is occupiedby Sundukli barchans (extremity of Kyzyl Kum desert).

Easternshore ofCaspian Sea passing in West-Turkmenmaritime lowland, it is covered by alkaline lands and loose sands.

The spur ofAlai mountain range (Kugitangtau) is wedged in its extreme east, having the highest peak ‘Ayrybaba’ (3.139 m). The lowest point inTurkmenistan is in the desert, Akjakaya depression, minus81 m. below sea level. The main rivers Amudarya (1415 km), Murgab (978 km), Tedjen (1150 km), Atrek (669 km) & Karakum canal (1375 km) cross the country.