Central Asia
Gas · Desert · Isolated
Turkmenistan is a country located in Central Asia. Its capital city is Ashgabat, with other major cities including Türkmenabat and Daşoguz. With a population of approximately 6.1M, the main language spoken is Turkmen. The country covers an area of 488,100 km². The official currency is the Turkmenistan manat (m). Traffic drives on the right side.
The Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, known as the 'Door to Hell', is a natural gas field that collapsed into a cavern in 1971 and was set alight to prevent methane spread — it has burned continuously ever since.
Ashgabat serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Turkmenistan, positioned in Central Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Türkmenabat, Daşoguz, Mary — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Ashgabat holds a Guinness World Record for the highest density of white marble buildings — the city was rebuilt by President Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) after 1991 independence in a white marble extravaganza that created one of the world's most surreal capital cities, with a rotating golden statue of Turkmenbashi that tracked the sun until removed by his successor, and a series of buildings whose architectural ambition dwarf the actual economic and democratic development of the country.
With a population of approximately 6.1M, Turkmenistan is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Turkmen, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Turkmenistan is reached via the dialling code +993. Turkmens maintain a nomadic pastoral cultural heritage — the famous Akhal-Teke horse breed, whose metallic sheen coat is unique in the equine world, is a Turkmen national symbol bred for speed and endurance in desert conditions for 3,000 years — while Turkmenistan operates one of the world's most isolated authoritarian states, restricting internet access, international travel, and outside information in a country of deliberate cultural isolation.
Turkmenistan spans 488,100 km², in the Central Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 40.0°N, 60.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.
The official currency is the Turkmenistan manat (m), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Turkmenistan's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+05:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.
Football / Horse Racing holds a special place in the heart of Turkmenistan's national identity. Football and wrestling are Turkmenistan's primary sports, with the Akhal-Teke horse racing tradition representing the most culturally embedded athletic competition — horses bred for endurance racing in desert conditions over distances impossible for European breeds, whose performance at international equestrian events has maintained Turkmenistan's connection to a world heritage sport despite the country's overall international isolation.
The highest point in Turkmenistan is Ayrybaba, rising to 3,139 metres above sea level. The Darvaza Gas Crater — the 'Door to Hell' — is a natural gas explosion crater 69 metres wide that has been burning continuously since 1971 when Soviet geologists accidentally drilled into a gas pocket, and which glows orange at night in the black Karakum Desert with an intensity visible from kilometres away, creating one of the world's most otherworldly natural-industrial landscapes.