Take a look at the title of this post. Does the name of that country ring a bell to you? Have you ever seen it or heard about it? Have you ever been there? Where is it on Earth? Can you point it out on a map? I feel as though many of you may have absolutely no clue, and for good reason I suppose. The Central Asian country of Turkmenistan is the seventh least visited country in the world, as it receives only about 7,000 tourists per year due to strict visa policy and travel tightness. However, a trip here may soon be worth it, thanks to the revamp of one of its largest cities courtesy of a new presidency.
The capital city of Ashgabat, is a very modern looking metropolis located in the middle of the desert. Nearly all of the buildings within the city are composed of white marble. With large garden formations and lavish fountains, palaces, etc, it is truly a sight many would not expect to see in the middle of desert land. In such a region where the proper term would be "time warped", Turkmenistan almost seems as prosperous as Abu Dhabi in the UAE compared to surrounding countries. But it was not always like such in the past.
In 1948, Ashgabat was hit by a massive earthquake that left a death toll of about 110,000 and a large cleanup to be done. The city emulated the Soviet and Art Deco styles in the process of rebuilding their city with gray brick structures. It wasn't until the new presidency of Saparmurat Niyazov in 1991 that the revamping of the city in a massive construction overhaul ushered in "the golden era of Turkmenistan". The resultant city looks brand new but strangely barren even with a population of 1 million.
The city of Ashgabat has many wonders about it. One of such is that it holds the Guinness World Record for most buildings made of white marble concentrated in one area. In a city only 22 square kilometers in size, 543 buildings are covered in a combined 4.5 million cubic meters, all of such marble imported from Italy. At night, the buildings are illuminated with neon lights and the streets and boulevards are lined with strong, decorative lights. It is amazingly beautiful to see.
Behind the city's wondrous appearance, the dictatorship of Niyazov was quite an odd one. He banned long hair and beards, outlawed opera, banished dogs from the city, and renamed months of the city after his family members. In addition, photograph of official buildings like the presidential palace was a forbidden practice. He was criticized by foreign media as one of the most repressive and totalitarian dictators of the time. Later in 1995, the country declared permanent neutrality- meaning that it supported neither side and wanted no part of any conflict, which was recognized by the UN's General Assembly. Commemorating such, the president erected the Monument to Neutrality, a landmark in the city that offers citizens 360-degree views of the extremity. President Niyazov. The Turkmenistan Counsel of Elders named 2015 the Year of Neutrality and Peace to mark the 20th anniversary of the nation's neutrality policies.
In addition to the country's development plans, President Niyazov also sought to revive Turkmen culture. His first step was writing the book entitled Ruhnama, or the Book of Soul. This book is taught in all Turkmen schools to guide the people in his spiritual and moral beliefs. In addition, the book also contains many poems from famous Turkmen poets. The city's Independence Park pays respects to the book that defines Turkmen culture, accompanied by statues of famous Turkmen heroes and poets throughout history.
Like all Central Asian areas, Turkmenistan has its own bazaar, known as Gulistan. Food, spices, electronics, clothing, and souvenirs are all available for the consumer at this national festival. Tis just one more of Turkmenistans' attractions. But wait there's more!!!!
Are you familiar with the famous Blue Mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey? If so, Turkmenistan went the extra mile and built the Ertugul Ghazi Mosque, an exact replica of the Blue Mosque from the interior to the exterior. The mosque was named after Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. The structure is a symbol of the friendly relationship Turkey has with Turkmenistan.
With the country remaining the seventh least visited, the current president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Other than unifying the country's dual currency exchange rate, he seeks to construct a large tourism zone on the Caspian Sea. He seeks to show the world the wonders the Turkmen people have to offer. One of such being the Door to Hell.
The Door to Hell is a..... you know what? I can't really explain it. I recommend you take a look at the link yourself, or search it elsewhere.
So in conclusion, this article definitely displays the five themes of geography in every which way. I feel like it needs no explanation, so I'll leave it at that.
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