Aşgabat

Aşgabat (Turkmen: Aşgabat; Persian: عشق آباد, UniPers: Ešq-âbâd; Russian: Ашхаба́д - Ashkhabád) also spelled as Ashgabat, Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. Aşgabat has a population of 695,300 (2001 census estimate) and is situated between the Kara Kum desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range. The name is believed to derive from the Persian Ashk-abad meaning "the City of Arsaces". Another explanation is that the name is a corruption of the Persian Eshq (Love) + abad (cultivated place or city), and hence loosely translates as "The city built by/from love". Aşgabat has a primarily Turkmen population, with minorities of ethnic Russians, Armenians, and Azeris. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (909x682, 145 KB)[edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (909x682, 145 KB)[edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... UniPers (Pârsiye Jahâni) is a simple Latin-based alphabet uniquely designed to facilitate the reading and writing of the Persian language. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Russian: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem(s): The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital Moscow Largest city Moscow Official language(s) None; Russian de facto Government Federation of Soviet Republics  - Last President Mikhail Gorbachev  - Last Premier Ivan Silayev... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... For the desert in Kazakhstan, see Aral Karakum. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Kopet Dag is a mountain range on the frontier between Turkmenistan and Iran, extending about 650 km (404 mi) along the border east of the Caspian Sea. ... Reproduction of a coin of Arsaces Arsaces is a Persian name, which occurs on a Persian seal, where it is written in cuneiform characters. ... Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... The Azerbaijanis[15][16] are an ethnic group mainly found in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. ...

History

Aşgabat is a relatively young city, growing out of a village of the same name established in 1818. It is, however, located not far from the site of Nisa, the ancient capital of the Parthians and the ruins of the Silk Road city of Konjikala, which had been destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century. 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... Nisa (also Parthaunisa) was an ancient city, located near modern-day Bagir village, 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Silk Road in the 1st century CE. For other uses, see Silk Road (disambiguation). ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ...

In 1869, Russian soldiers built a fortress on a hill near the village, and this added security soon attracted merchants and craftsmen to the area. Tsarist Russia annexed the region in 1884, and chose to develop the town as a regional center due to its proximity to the border of British-influenced Persia. It was regarded as a pleasant town with European style buildings, shops and hotels. 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Tuesday (click on link to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

In 1908 The first Baha'i house of worship was built here. It was seriously damaged as a result of earthquake in 1948 and was finally demolished by the Soviet authorities in 1963.[1][2] 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... There are currently seven Baháí Houses of Worship around the world, although Baháí communities own many properties where they plan for Houses of Worship to be constructed as the Baháí community grows and develops. ...

Soviet rule was established, lost and then regained in 1917, and the city was renamed Poltoratsk after a local revolutionary. The name "Aşgabat" was restored in 1927 when the Communist Party was properly established in Turkmenistan, though it was usually known by the Russian form Ashkhabad. From this period onward the city experienced rapid growth and industrialisation, although this was severely disrupted by a major earthquake on October 6 1948. An estimated 7.3 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed over 110,000 (2/3 the population of the city), although the official number announced by Soviet news was only 14,000. 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. ...

Economics

As capital of the country, Aşgabat is primarily a government and administrative center. The principal industries of Aşgabat are cotton textiles and metal working. It is a major stop on the Trans-Caspian railway. Cotton ready for harvest. ... The Trans-Caspian railway (later called the Central Asiatic Railway) is a railway that follows the path of the Silk Road through much of western Central Asia. ...

The city is served by Ashgabat Airport. Ashgabat Airport (IATA: ASB, ICAO: UTAA), also known as Ashkhabad Airport, is an airport located in Ashgabat (Ashkhabad), the capital of Turkmenistan. ...

Climate

The Kopet-Dag mountain range is just about 25 km away from Ashgabat on the south. Its northern border touches the Kara-Kum desert. Because of this location, Ashgabat features arid climate with hot and dry summers and mild and short winters. Summer temperatures can easily reach 45°C (113°F) and stay so for long periods of time. June through August are guaranteed hot, with night temperatures normally not falling lower than 30°C (86°F). Automn is notably less hot; however during the day temperatures can still be as much as 35°C (95°F) whereas nights are pleasently cooler. Winter normally starts in December; snow is rare and there can be a lot of rain. Normally, winter temperatures fluctuate between 10-15°C (50-60°F), but quite rarely can go visibly down to -10°C (14°F), as a rule in January. The lowest temperature in winter was recorded in January 1969, it was -28°C (-18°F). Because of the extreme summer heat, air-conditioners can be found virtually everywhere and people try to avoid being outside until the sunset. Springs are warm and mild, with plenty of rain.

Sights

Museums include the Turkmen Fine Arts Museum, noted for its impressive collection of woven carpets, and the Turkmen History Museum which has artifacts dating back to the Parthian civilisation. The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan is an important institute of higher learning. Large mosques include the Azadi Mosque (which resembles the Blue Mosque in Istanbul), the Khezrety Omar Mosque, and the futuristic Iranian Mosque. Aşgabat is also home to the Arch of Neutrality, which is a large tripod, upon which a golden statue of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov (also known and generally referred to as Turkmenbashi, or leader of the Turkmens). This statue rotates in order to always face the sun during daylight hours. It is said to be made of pure gold. Carpet is a general term given to any loom-woven or felted textile and to grass floor coverings. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (in Turkish Sultanahmet Camii, in English commonly called the Blue Mosque) is a mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1923. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural, and economic centre. ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov (Turkmen Saparmyrat Ataýewiç Nyýazow) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ...

Independence and Peace Monument	Türkmenbaşı Palace Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (966x694, 194 KB)[edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ...	Ashgabat Exhibition Center	Ak Bugday (White Wheat) Museum
Kukla (Puppet) Theather	Rukhiyet Palace	Musical Drama Theather	Assembly of Ashgabat

Sister cities

• Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
• Ankara, Turkey

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Duke City Location Location in the state of New Mexico Coordinates , Government Country State County United States New Mexico Bernalillo Founded 1706 Mayor Martin Chavez Geographical characteristics Area     City 469. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Ankara (Greek: Áγκυρα) is the capital of Turkey and the countrys second largest city after Ä°stanbul. ...

See also

• Names of Asian cities in different languages

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Category:Aşgabat

• Page on modern Aşgabat (Russian)
• Computer service in Aşgabat
• Aşgabat Photo Gallery. Pictures of modern Aşgabat.
• All schools of Ashgabat

Coordinates: 37°58′N 58°20′E Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...