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Turkmenistan in Central Asia Geography: Turkmenistan is located in the southwest of Central Asia and has access to Caspian sea on the west. Amu Darya river flows on the east, on the south and southwest the republic is locked by Kopetdag and Paropamiz mountains. Waterless desert Kara Kum occupies 80 % of country territory. Only 3 % of land irrigated from Kara Kum channel is fertile. Turkmenistan borders on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the north, Iran and Afghanistan -on the south and southeast.
Climate: distinctly continental and dry. Average temperature in January is +4 , in July + 28 average, whereas absolute values of temperature in Kara Kum desert reach 48-50 .
Industry: economy is based on oil and gas production, chemical industry (production of iodine, salt cake, super phosphate, potash fertilizers and sulphuric acid), oil refining and light industries (pre-processing of cotton and wool, karakul skins, silk cocoons, textile and knitting industries).
Agriculture: cotton growing is the most popular activity. People grow grain (wheat, barley, rice, joughara), vegetables and melons and fodder. Sheep breeding (Karakul sheep breeding) is the most popular type of livestock breeding. Cattle, horses and camels are also bred.
National currency: manat
Area: 488,100 sq. km.
Population: 4,775,544 (July 2003)
Transport infrastructure: Highways 22,000 km; railways 2,440 km
Administrative divisions: 5 provinces, capital city, 58 cities and towns.
Capital: Ashgabat
Head of State: President
National Legislature: Khalk Maslakhaty
Languages: Turkmen (official)
Official holidays:
1 January New Year
12 January Memory Day
19 February Turkmenistan Flag Day
8 March International Woman's Day
21 March Spring Day
The first Sunday in April Drop of water, Grain of gold Day
The last Sunday in April Turkmenistan Horse Day
9 May Victory Day
18 May Revival Unity Day
19 May Poetry of Mahtumkuli Day
The last Sunday in May Turkmenistan Carpet Day
During three days annually Kurban-bayram (in accordance to the muslim calendar)
1 June International day of children defense
The third Sunday in july "Gala bayramy" Holiday of Grain
The second Sunday in August Turkmenistan Melon Day
The last Sunday in September Turkmenistan National Singer's Day
6 October Sorrow Day
27/28 October Turkmenistan Independence Day
17 November Students Day
The last Sunday in November Harvest Day
The first Sunday in December Neighbourhood Day
12 December Turkmenistan Neutrality Day
Ashgabat
Ashkhabad is located in the middle part of the foothill plain of Kopetdag , on the height more than 200 meters above sea level. From the north to Ashchabad the channel of Karakum canal joints, behind of begin sandy dunes of the of the largest deserts of the world-Karakum. Actually, Ashkhabad is an artificial oasis created between sands and foothills.
The city having old architectural traditions at present time has a lot of unique town-planning decisions.
The modern architecture of Ashkhabad differs by the harmony of proportions, harmony with environmental nature, and the main thing, continues traditions of classical east architecture. The center of modern Ashkhabad is formed around of constructed in 1999 year Arch of Neutrality, sculptural composition and museum of memory of Ashkhabad earthquake victims, Presidential Palace, and Mejlis building.
In record terms the construction of new airport building complex, Grand National Museum, National institute of manuscripts, magnificent mosques in Ashkhabad and Geoktepe was completed.
Ashkhabad experiences surprisingly dynamical period in its history, more and more blossoming and gaining new architectural paints and harmonies.
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