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Türkmenabat

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Türkmenabat is a large and busy city in Turkmenistan.

Turkmen-Rail-employees-new-Turkmenabat-Amu-Darya-railroad-bridge
Turkmen-Rail-employees-new-Turkmenabat-Amu-Darya-railroad-bridge

It serves as the main center for the Lebap Province. The city sits right on the banks of the Amu Darya River. It is located near the border with Uzbekistan. To the south, you can find the East Karakum Desert. This desert is home to the Repetek Nature Reserve. That special place is famous for desert crocodiles called zemzen.

The weather in this region follows a cold desert climate. This means the summers are very hot. The winters stay quite cool. Rain does not fall very often here. Most of the light rain happens during the winter and spring months. The river nearby provides a very important source of water. This water helps the land around the river stay fertile. This makes the area great for growing many different things.

This city has a history that spans 2,000 years.

Medieval fortress of Amul (Lebap, Turkmenistan)
Medieval fortress of Amul (Lebap, Turkmenistan)

In ancient times, people called this place Āmul. The Amu Darya River even takes its name from this old city. For a long time, it was a major stop on the Great Silk Road. This was a famous path used for trading goods. The city was a hub where three important routes met. It helped travelers reach places like Bukhara, Khiva, and Merv.

Modern Türkmenabat grew quickly as a place for industry and travel.

MABahnhofTürkmenabad
MABahnhofTürkmenabad

In 1886, Russian Cossacks settled in the eastern part of the city. They named their new home New-Chardjuy. They lived there to help build the Trans-Caspian railway. Today, the city has about 231,000 people living in it. It is a major center for making textiles like silk and cotton. The city also has many factories that process food.

Traveling around the city is easy for many people. You can take a train from the main station in the city center.

Turkmen-Rail-employees-new-Turkmenabat-Amu-Darya-railroad-bridge
Turkmen-Rail-employees-new-Turkmenabat-Amu-Darya-railroad-bridge

In 2017, two new bridges were opened over the river. One bridge is for cars and one is for trains. There is also an international airport with a new terminal. Many people visit the big bazaars to shop for goods. The World Bazaar is the largest market in the city. You can find jewelry, clothes, and even cars there.

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File:Medieval fortress of Amul (Lebap, Turkmenistan).jpg
Medieval fortress of Amul (Lebap,...
File:Turkmen-Rail-employees-new-Turkmenabat-Amu-Darya-railroad-bridge.jpg
Turkmen-Rail-employees-new-Turkmenabat-Amu...
File:MABahnhofTürkmenabad.jpg
MABahnhofTürkmenabad.jpg
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