Ashgabat

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"Ashkhabad" redirects here. For the Turkmen folklore band, see Ashkhabad (band).

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For the cities in Iran, see Eshqabad (disambiguation).
Ashgabat
Aşgabat/Ашгабат, Ашхабад

Poltoratsk (1919-1927)
Official seal of
Seal
A view from the north towards the city center
A view from the north towards the city center
Ashgabat is located in Turkmenistan
Ashgabat
A view from the north towards the city center
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  Turkmenistan
founded 1881
Government
 • Type Presidential
 • Mayor Myratnyýaz Abilow [1]
Area
 • Total 440 km2 (170 sq mi)
Elevation 219 m (719 ft)
Population (2012)
 • Total 1,031,992
 • Density 2,300/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
Postal code 744000 - 744040
Area code(s) (+993) 12
Vehicle registration AG
Website www.ashgabat.gov.tm
Satellite view of Ashgabat

Ashgabat (Turkmen: Aşgabat, pronounced [aʃʁaˈbat][citation needed]; Persian: عشق‌آباد‎‎; Russian: Ашхаба́д, tr. Ashkhabad; IPA: [ɐʂxɐˈbat]), known as Poltoratsk (Russian: Полтора́цк; IPA: [pəltɐˈrat͡sk]) between 1919 and 1927, is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan in Central Asia, situated between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range. The 2001 census estimated a population of 695,300, while the 2009 census estimated a population of 1 million, primarily Turkmen people, with ethnic minorities of Russians, Armenians, and Azerbaijanis.

The Karakum Canal runs through the city, carrying waters from the Amu Darya from east to west.[2]

Names

Ashgabat is called Aşgabat in Turkmen, Ашхабад (Ashkhabad) in Russian, and Ešq-ābād (عشق‌آباد) in Persian. Before 1991, the city was usually spelled Ashkabad in English, a transliteration of the Russian form, which was itself from the original Persian form. It has also been variously spelled Ashkhabat and Ashgabad. From 1919 until 1927 the city was renamed Poltoratsk after a local revolutionary.

The name in Persian means "city of love" or "city of devotion". Some Turkmen scholars insist that the name goes back to the Parthian era, 3rd century BC, deriving from the name of the founder of the Parthian Empire, Arsaces I of Parthia, modified by Turkish pronunciation to Ashk-Abad (the city of Ashk/Arsaces).[3]

History

Ashgabat is a relatively young city, having been founded in 1881 as a fortification and named after the nearby settlement of Askhabad (lit. beloved city in Turkmen).[4] Located not far from the site of Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthian Empire, it grew on the ruins of the Silk Road city of Konjikala, first mentioned as a wine-producing village in the 2nd century BC and leveled by an earthquake in the 1st century BC (a precursor of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake). Konjikala was rebuilt because of its advantageous location on the Silk Road and it flourished until its destruction by Mongols in the 13th century. After that it survived as a small village until Russians took over in the 19th century.[5][6]

A part of Persia until the Battle of Geok Tepe, Askhabad was ceded to the Russian Empire under the terms of the Akhal Treaty. Russia developed the area as it was close to the border of British-influenced Persia. It was regarded as a pleasant town with European style buildings, shops, and hotels. In 1908, the first Bahá'í House of Worship was built in Askhabat. It was badly damaged in the 1948 earthquake and finally demolished in 1963.[7] The community of the Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan was largely based in Ashgabat.

Soviet rule was established in Ashgabat in December 1917. However, in July 1918, a coalition of Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries, and Tsarist former officers of the Imperial Russian Army revolted against the Bolshevik rule emanating from Tashkent and established the Ashkhabad Executive Committee. After receiving some support (but even more promises) from General Malleson, the British withdrew in April 1919 and the Tashkent Soviet resumed control of the city.

In 1919, the city was renamed Poltoratsk (Полторацк), after Pavel Poltoratsky, the Chairman of the Soviet of National Economy of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.[4][8] When the Turkmen SSR was established in 1924, Poltoratsk became its capital. The original name (in the form of "Ashkhabad") was restored in 1927.[4] From this period onward, the city experienced rapid growth and industrialisation, although severely disrupted by a major earthquake on October 6, 1948. An estimated 7.3 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed 110-176,000[9][10][11] (⅔ of the population of the city), although the official number announced by Soviet news was only 40,000.[12]

In July 2003, all the names of streets in Ashgabat were replaced by serial numbers except nine major highways, some named after Saparmurat Niyazov, his father and mother. The Central Palace area is designated 2000 to symbolize the beginning of the 21st century. The rest of the streets have larger or smaller four-digit numerical names.

In 2013, the city was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's highest concentration of white marble buildings.[13]

Ashgabat milestones:[14]

  • 1882-1918 – administrative center of Russia's Transcaspian Region
  • 1918-1925 – administrative center of the Turkmen Oblast in Turkestan ASSR
  • since February 1925 – capital of Turkmen SSR
  • since October 1991 – capital of independent Turkmenistan

Districts

Ashgabat is divided into the following districts:[15]

  1. Archabil (Turkmen: Arçabyl etraby, Арчабильский)
  2. Berkararlyk (Turkmen: Berkararlyk etraby, Беркарарлыкский)
  3. Kopetdag (Turkmen: Köpetdag etraby, Копетдагский)
  4. Bagtyyarlayk (Turkmen: Bagtyýarlyk etraby, Багтырялыкский)
  5. Chandybil (Turkmen: Çandybil etraby, Чандыбильский)

In 2013, in the city of Ashgabat formed districts:[16]

  1. Abadan (Turkmen: Abadan etraby, Абаданский)
  2. Ruhabad (Turkmen: Ruhubad etraby, Рухабадский)

Architecture

First Baha'i Temple in the world

First Bahá'í House of Worship 1908

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Main article: Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan

When Ashgabat was under Russian rule, the number of Bahá'ís in the city rose to over 1,000, and a Bahá'í community was established, with its own schools, medical facilities, cemetery. The community elected one of the first Bahá'í local administrative institutions. In 1908 the Bahá'í community completed the construction of the first Bahá'í House of Worship, sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of mašriqu-l-'aḏkār (Arabic: مشرق اﻻذكار‎‎),[17] where people of all religions may worship God without denominational restrictions.[18] The building was designed under the guidance of `Abdu'l-Bahá by Ustad' Ali-Akbar Banna Yazdi who also wrote a history of the Baha'is in Ashgabat.[19][20]

The House of Worship itself was surrounded by gardens with four buildings at the four corners of the gardens: a school, a hostel where travelling Bahá'ís were entertained, a small hospital, and a building for groundskeepers.[20]

Under the Soviet policy towards religion, the Bahá'ís, strictly adhering to their principle of obedience to legal government, abandoned these properties in 1928.[21] For the decade between 1938 and 1948, when it was seriously damaged by the earthquake, it was an art gallery. It was demolished in 1963.[18]

After 1991

After exiting the Soviet Union, the city gained many high-rise residential buildings. Modern construction techniques allows high-rise development (mainly 12-storeys) with relatively good protection against earthquakes. Primarily consisting of residential towers, the first floor is typically given a shopping area and a service department. Many of the buildings are made of white marble. The Arch of Neutrality was dismantled and re-erected in its original form in the south of the capital. Turkmenistan Tower, at a height of 211 meters, is the tallest building in the country.

Ashgabat is primarily a government and administrative centre. The business centre of Ashgabat is on the Archabil highway. Construction of several ministries and departments, teaching and research and cultural centres is complete. Development of office buildings and public spaces along the avenue continues.[22]

Panorama of Ashgabat

Economy

The principal industries are cotton textiles and metal working. It is a major stop on the Trans-Caspian railway. A large percentage of the employment in Ashgabat is provided by the state institutions; such as the ministries, undersecretariats, and other administrative bodies of the Turkmenistan government. There are also many foreign citizens working as diplomats or clerks in the embassies of their respective countries.

Industry

More than 43 large and 128 medium-sized industrial enterprises along with over 1,700 small industrial facilities are located in Ashgabat and its suburbs.[23] The most important are “Ashneftemash”, “Turkmenkabel”, “Turkmenbashi Textile Complex” etc.[24]

Shopping

Turkmen carpets in Altyn Asyr Bazaar

Both locals and visitors go to Altyn Asyr Bazaar in Choganly, where myriads of items, including traditional fabrics and hand-woven carpets, can be bought. Modern shopping areas are mostly found in central streets, including the modern Turkish mall Ýimpaş and shopping centers Paýtagt and Aşgabat.[25] The local residents like traditional bazaars: Russian bazaar, Teke bazaar, Daşoguz bazaar, Mir bazaar, Jennet bazaar, etc.

Transportation

Boeing 717 in Ashgabat International Airport

The city is served by the Ashgabat International Airport. Turkmenistan Airlines has its headquarters in the city.[26] Ashgabat offers air service to and from all the major cities of the Turkmenistan, as well as some destinations in Asia and Europe, especially in countries that are members of the CIS. Ashgabat is served by the following foreign airlines: Belavia, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, S7 Airlines, flydubai, China Southern Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways.

The Trans-Caspian Railway (Turkmenbashi - Balkanabat - Bereket - Ashgabat - Mary - Türkmenabat) runs through Ashgabat from east to west. Since 2006 there as also been a train line towards the north, the Trans Karakum railway. In May 2009 the restoration of Ashgabat railway station was completed.

In Ashgabat there are two intercity bus stations, one located near the Teke Bazaar, the second at the old airport. There are daily buses to Archman, Dashoguz and Turkmenabat. The new International Passenger Bus Terminal of Ashgabat was commissioned in September 5, 2014.[27][28]

Public transport in the city consists mainly of buses. More than 60 bus lines cover a total range of more than 2,230 kilometres (1,386 miles) with 700 buses running on urban routes. Currently the city primarily uses Mercedes-Benz and Hyunda buses.[29] Bus timetables and detailed schematic map of the route are at every stop. Distances between stops are about 300–500 meters. From October 19, 1964 to December 31, 2011 the city also had the Ashgabat trolleybus system. At the beginning of the twentieth century narrow-gauge railway operated by steam-power, connecting the city with the suburbs Firyuza.

On 18 October 2006, the Ashgabat Cable Car opened, connecting the city with the foothills of the Kopetdag.[30]

Science and education

Turkmen State Institute of Transport and Communications

Ashgabat is the most important educational center of Turkmenistan with a large number of places of education. Turkmen State University was founded in 1950: the main university building is located in Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Avenue. The Turkmen State Medical University is situated in Ashgabat also: it reports to the Ministry of Health and the medical industry of Turkmenistan. Other prominent institutions are the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management, a main business school founded in 1980, as well as the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction and The National Institute of Sports and Tourism of Turkmenistan. There is only one foreign university - International Turkmen-Turkish University.

Climate

Ashgabat
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
20
 
 
9
0
 
 
24
 
 
11
1
 
 
41
 
 
17
6
 
 
32
 
 
24
12
 
 
21
 
 
30
17
 
 
6
 
 
36
22
 
 
3
 
 
38
24
 
 
2
 
 
37
22
 
 
3
 
 
32
16
 
 
10
 
 
24
10
 
 
19
 
 
17
5
 
 
20
 
 
10
1
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: pogoda.ru.net[31]

The Kopet-Dag mountain range is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) to the south, and Ashgabat's northern boundary touches the Kara-Kum desert. Because of this Ashgabat has an arid climate with hot, dry summers and cool, short winters. The average high temperature in July is 38.3 °C (100.9 °F). Nighttimes in the summer are warm, with an average minimum temperature in July of 23.8 °C (75 °F). The average January high temperature is 8.6 °C (47.5 °F), and the average low temperature is −0.4 °C (31.3 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Ashgabat is 46.7 °C (116 °F), recorded in June 1995.[31][32] A low temperature of −24.1 °C (−11 °F) was recorded in January 1969.[31] Snow is infrequent in the area. Annual precipitation is only 201 millimetres (7.91 in); March and April are the wettest months.

Climate data for Ashgabat
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 28.7
(83.7)		 32.6
(90.7)		 38.6
(101.5)		 39.4
(102.9)		 44.5
(112.1)		 46.7
(116.1)		 45.5
(113.9)		 45.7
(114.3)		 45.6
(114.1)		 40.1
(104.2)		 37.0
(98.6)		 33.1
(91.6)		 46.7
(116.1)
Average high °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5)		 11.2
(52.2)		 16.5
(61.7)		 24.1
(75.4)		 30.1
(86.2)		 36.0
(96.8)		 38.3
(100.9)		 37.2
(99)		 31.7
(89.1)		 24.3
(75.7)		 16.8
(62.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 23.8
(74.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.5
(38.3)		 5.5
(41.9)		 10.4
(50.7)		 17.4
(63.3)		 23.3
(73.9)		 29.0
(84.2)		 31.3
(88.3)		 29.6
(85.3)		 23.6
(74.5)		 16.5
(61.7)		 10.2
(50.4)		 5.1
(41.2)		 17.1
(62.8)
Average low °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)		 1.0
(33.8)		 5.5
(41.9)		 11.6
(52.9)		 16.6
(61.9)		 21.5
(70.7)		 23.8
(74.8)		 21.7
(71.1)		 16.1
(61)		 10.1
(50.2)		 5.2
(41.4)		 1.2
(34.2)		 11.2
(52.2)
Record low °C (°F) −24.1
(−11.4)		 −20.8
(−5.4)		 −13.3
(8.1)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 1.3
(34.3)		 9.2
(48.6)		 13.8
(56.8)		 9.5
(49.1)		 2.0
(35.6)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 −13.1
(8.4)		 −16
(3)		 −24.1
(−11.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 20
(0.79)		 24
(0.94)		 41
(1.61)		 32
(1.26)		 21
(0.83)		 6
(0.24)		 3
(0.12)		 2
(0.08)		 3
(0.12)		 10
(0.39)		 19
(0.75)		 20
(0.79)		 201
(7.91)
Average rainy days 9 9 13 12 10 5 3 2 3 6 8 10 90
Average snowy days 5 5 1 0.03 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1 3 15
Average relative humidity (%) 78 72 66 58 47 35 34 34 40 54 68 77 55
Mean monthly sunshine hours 112.7 119.4 146.2 194.4 275.1 335.5 353.8 348.1 289.2 216.8 157.2 104.4 2,652.8
Source #1: Pogoda.ru.net[33]
Source #2: NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)[34]

Notable buildings

The Ertugrul Gazi Mosque in Ashgabat named after Ertuğrul

Museums include the Turkmen Fine Arts Museum and Turkmen Carpet Museum, noted for their impressive collection of woven carpets as well as a Turkmen history museum and the Ashgabat National Museum of History, which displays artifacts dating back to the Parthian and Persian civilizations. The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan is an important institute of higher learning. Ashgabat was also home to the Arch of Neutrality, a 250-foot-tall tripod crowned by a golden statue of late president Saparmurat Niyazov (also known as Turkmenbashi, or leader of all Turkmen). The 50-foot-high statue, which rotated in order to always face the sun during daylight hours, was removed on August 26, 2010 after Niyazov’s successor, current President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, made it clear earlier in the year that the statue was going to be taken out of Ashgabat’s parliament square.[35] In 2011 a Monument to the Constitution was built, the total height - 185 meters, makes it the second tallest building in Turkmenistan.[36]

Turkmenistan Tower

Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest Ferris wheel in an enclosed space.[37] The Ashgabat Flagpole is the fourth tallest free-standing flagpole in the world, standing at 133 m (436 ft) tall. The Ashgabat Fountain is the worlds greatest number of fountain pools in a public place.[38][39] Ashgabat also features Turkmenistan Tower which is the tallest tower in Turkmenistan, the decorative octagonal Star of Oguzkhan is recognized as the world's largest architectural image of the star and entered in the Guinness World Records.[40]

Palaces

Theatres

Parks and squares

Ashgabat Theme Park

Ashgabat has many parks and open spaces mainly established in the early years of the Independence and well maintained and expanded thereafter. The most important of these parks are: the Botanical Garden, Güneş, Turkmen-Turkish friendship, Independence. The oldest city park - Ashgabat, was founded in 1887.[42] In the center of Ashgabat is the Inspiration Alley, an art-park complex which is a favorite place for many locals. The amusement park World of Turkmenbashi Tales is a local equivalent to Disneyland. Squares: 10 Years of Turkmenistan Independence, Magtymguly, Eternal Flame, Zelili, Chyrchyk, Garashsyzlyk, March 8, Gerogly, Dolphin, 15 years of Independence, Ruhyýet, 10 ýyl Abadançylyk.[43]

Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex

Monument Milletiň ogullary at the old place

Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex was opened in 2014 in remembrance of those killed in Battle of Geok Tepe, World War II and to commemorate of the victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake. It is located in south-western part of the city.[44][45]

Cinemas

Ashgabat has several cinemas. In 2011, Aşgabat Cinema, the first 3D cinema in Turkmenistan, opened in Ashgabat.[46] The Watan and Turkmenistan theaters were reconstructed.

Mosques

Churches

  • Saint Alexander Nevsky Church (founded in 1882, dedicated in 1900)
  • Church of Saint Nicholas the Miracle-Worker
  • House of Prayer of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Sports

The main sporting venues in Ashgabat are the Olympic Stadium, Ashgabat Stadium, the National Olympic ice rink, Sports complex for winter sports and the Olympic water sports complex.

Ashgabat has been chosen as the host city of the V Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts,[47] and was also the first city in Central Asia to host the Asian Indoor Games. In 2010, an Olympic Village was built in the south of the city. It is aimed to be completed by 2015, at a cost of $5 billion.

The city's professional football clubs Altyn Asyr, FC Ashgabat, HTTU Aşgabat and FC Hazyna play in the Ýokary Liga, the top flight of Turkmenistan.

International relations

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkmenistan

Twin towns and sister cities

Ashgabat is twinned with:

Gallery

References

Notes

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Pospelov, pp. 29–30
  5. ↑ Konjikala
  6. ↑ Konjikala
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Independent Neutral Turkmenistan: 10 Glorious Years of the Epoch of Turkmenbashi the Great, Ashgabat, 2001, pp. 39-40 (Russian)
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ “Ашхабад, Туркменистан”. Retrieved on 12 March 2015.
  24. ↑ Федор, Забродин. “Сделано в Туркменистане”, “Turkmenistan.ru”. Retrieved on 12 March 2015.
  25. ↑ Ashgabat Shopping Mall
  26. ↑ "Directory: World Airlines." Flight International. 30 March-5 April 2004. [2].
  27. ↑ Turkmenistan to launch international bus service
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ The Monument Of The Constitution
  37. ↑ Turkmenistan builds largest indoor Ferris wheel
  38. ↑ Most fountain pools in a public place
  39. ↑ Ashgabat in Guinness book
  40. ↑ LARGEST ARCHITECTURAL STAR RECORD SET IN TURKMENISTAN
  41. ↑ Weddenig palace
  42. ↑ Monument-symbol of city and amusement park inaugurated in Ashgabat
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Посещение Мемориального комплекса «Народная память»
  45. ↑ Президент Туркменистана принял участие в открытии мемориального комплекса и траурных мероприятиях Дня памяти
  46. ↑ Ashgabat residents get 3D cinema
  47. ↑ [3][dead link]
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Sources

  • Е. М. Поспелов (Ye. M. Pospelov). "Имена городов: вчера и сегодня (1917–1992). Топонимический словарь." (City Names: Yesterday and Today (1917–1992). Toponymic Dictionary.) Москва, "Русские словари", 1993.

External links

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