37 Facts About Turkmenistan Most People Get Wrong

The Door to Hell (Darvaza gas crater) has been burning continuously since 1971.

Ashgabat holds the record for most white marble buildings in the world.

Turkmenistan is the world's 4th largest natural gas exporter.

The country is one of the most isolated and authoritarian states in the world.

The Darvaza gas crater was created accidentally when Soviet geologists set fire to a collapsing drill site expecting it to burn for weeks; it has burned for over 50 years.

The Akhal-Teke horse, bred in Turkmenistan for over 3,000 years, is considered one of the world's oldest and most beautiful breeds; its coat has a distinctive metallic golden sheen.

The ancient Silk Road city of Merv, near modern Mary, was once the largest city in the world in the 12th century and is one of the best-preserved ancient Central Asian cities.

President Niyazov renamed himself Turkmenbashi (Father of all Turkmens), renamed months of the year after himself and his mother, and built a rotating gold statue of himself that constantly faced the sun.

Turkmenistan declared permanent neutrality in 1995, recognized by the UN, making it one of the few permanently neutral nations in the world.

The Karakum Desert covers 70% of Turkmenistan and is one of the world's driest and hottest deserts, yet ancient civilizations thrived in its oases for thousands of years.

The ancient city of Nisa near Ashgabat was the capital of the Parthian Empire, a major power that controlled trade between Rome and China for 500 years.

Turkmenistan produces the finest Turkmen carpets in Central Asia; the carpet features on the national flag and Turkmen carpet-weaving is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Karakum Canal, one of the world's longest irrigation canals at 1,375 km, diverts water from the Amu Darya River to make desert farmable but has contributed to the drying of the Aral Sea.

Turkmenistan has one of the world's most restrictive internet policies; citizens access only a government-approved intranet and foreign sites are largely blocked.

Turkmenistan's Yangykala Canyon, a dramatic 60-km gorge with pink, red, and orange striped cliffs, is one of the most spectacular landscapes in Central Asia and virtually unknown to tourists.

The country subsidized gas, electricity, and water to near-zero cost for citizens for decades, one of only a handful of states to do so.

Ashgabat was named by Guinness World Records as having the highest concentration of white marble buildings, with over 543 marble-clad structures.

Turkmenistan holds the fourth-largest natural gas reserves in the world and exports almost all of it to China via the Central Asia-China pipeline.

The Amu Darya River, forming Turkmenistan's eastern border, is one of the rivers of ancient Bactria and flows through some of the most historically significant terrain in Central Asia.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ruled Turkmenistan from 2006 to 2022 and cultivated a personality cult including gold statues and self-authored books on national heritage.

Turkmenistan's Nokhur village in the Kopet Dag mountains is home to a community that claims descent from Alexander the Great's soldiers and practices a unique blend of Zoroastrian and Islamic traditions.

The Mary region of Turkmenistan contains one of the richest concentrations of ancient ruins in Central Asia, including Merv, Gonur Tepe, and Margiana.

Turkmenistan's gas field at Galkynysh (South Yolotan) is the second-largest natural gas field in the world, discovered only in 2006.

Horse racing is the national sport of Turkmenistan; the president regularly races horses on state television and has authored books on the Akhal-Teke breed.

Turkmenistan's traditional bread (chorek), baked in clay tandoor ovens, is so central to culture that a special annual day celebrates the bread-baker.

Ashgabat's Olympic-sized velodrome, equestrian complex, and indoor skating rink were built at enormous cost for the 2017 Asian Indoor Games, in a country where ordinary citizens earn under $500 per month.

Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia, Asia, with its capital city in Ashgabat.

The population of Turkmenistan is approximately 6.1M, spread across 488,100 km² of territory.

Turkmenistan has a population density of 13/km²: one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth.

Turkmenistan is a landlocked country with no coastline, relying entirely on neighbouring countries for access to international trade routes.

Turkmenistan shares land borders with 4 countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran.

The official language of Turkmenistan is Turkmen.

Turkmenistan uses the Turkmenistan Manat (TMT) as its official currency.

Turkmenistan gained independence in 1991, establishing itself as a sovereign nation in Central Asia.

The total GDP of Turkmenistan is $53.3B, with a GDP per capita of $8,738, classifying it as a lower-middle-income economy.

Turkmenistan has a hot desert, extreme heat in summer climate, with the best time to visit being March–May, September–October.

Turkmenistan is considered a Budget–Mid destination for travellers, with meals averaging $3–8.

🔥 Darvaza Gas Crater (Door to Hell)

A 70m wide flaming crater that has burned continuously since 1971, one of the world's most surreal sights

🏛️ Ancient Merv

UNESCO once the largest city in the world, a Silk Road metropolis with 1,000 years of history

🏙️ Ashgabat White City

A bizarre capital of white marble monuments, gold statues and empty boulevards, North Korea meets Las Vegas

🏜️ Yangykala Canyon

A dramatic multicoloured canyon in the Karakum Desert, one of Central Asia's most stunning landscapes