Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia bordered by the Caspian Sea and largely covered by the Karakum Desert. It’s known for archaeological ruins including those at Nisa and Merv, major stops along the ancient trade route the Silk Road. Ashgabat, the capital, was rebuilt in Soviet style in the mid-20th century and is filled with grand monuments honoring former president Saparmurat Niyazov.
| Capital and largest city | Ashgabat 37°58′N 58°20′E |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Turkmen[4] |
| Inter-ethnic languages | Turkmen, Russian[5] |
| Ethnic groups (2010) | |
| Religion |
|
| Demonym(s) | Turkmenistani[6] Turkmen[7] |
| Government | Unitary presidential secular republic |
| Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow | |
| Raşit Meredow | |
| Gülşat Mämmedowa | |
| Currency | Turkmen new manat (TMT) |
| Area | |
• Total | 189,660 sq mi |
| Bigger than California, smaller than Texas | |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 6,031,187 Maryland has 6,046,000 |
The background of the Turkmen flag is green, a symbol of the Islamic religion. Its white crescent stands for faith in a bright future. The five stars are for the five senses, and the five points on each star are for different states of matter (liquid, solid, gas, crystal, and plasma).
Current Time: 10:15pm (9 hours ahead of us)
Current Weather: 88 degrees, sunny 38% humidity
Flight: JFK to Ashgabat 18h, 20mins (1 stop) - $1,542
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Saparmurat Niyazov gold statue in Ashgabat
The gold-plated statue of Turkmenistan's late leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, has been removed from its giant plinth in the capital, Ashgabat. President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who took power after the strongman's death in 2006, gave the order to remove the monument in January.
