Introduction
Ashgabat is the capital of the Central Asian country of Turkmenistan. The city was founded in 1881 under the name Ashkhabad. From 1924 to 1991 it was the capital of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, which was part of the Soviet Union. In 1992, after Turkmenistan gained independence, the government officially adopted the Turkmen-language version of the city's name, Ashgabat. The city lies in an oasis at the northern foot of the Kopet-Dag Range. It is located on the edge of the Karakum Desert, about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the Iranian frontier.
Places of interest
Ashgabat is the cultural center of Turkmenistan. The city is home to the Turkmen History Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Carpet Museum. Other places of interest include theaters and an opera house. The Turkmen State University is one of several institutions of higher education in the city. The unique Desert Institute is world renowned.
Economy
Ashgabat is an important industrial and transportation center. The city is famous for its carpet-weaving industry. It also has glassworks, cotton mills, and metalworking shops. Its picturesque natural setting has made it a center for the film industry.
History
Ashkhabad was founded in 1881 as a Russian military fort. It was located on caravan routes and on the Transcaspian Railway. By 1911 its population had grown to more than 45,000. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the city was renamed Poltoratsk, after a local revolutionary. In 1927 it reverted to its original name, Ashkhabad. It was known as Ashkhabad until the name Ashgabat was adopted in 1992.
An earthquake virtually destroyed Ashgabat in October 1948. The city was rebuilt, but for many years it suffered a water shortage. This situation improved considerably when the Karakum Canal reached the city in 1962. Population (1999 estimate), 605,000.
