Türkmenbaşy is a city in Turkmenistan, part of the Balkan Province, on the Krasnovodsk Gulf of the Caspian Sea. It is located at latitude 40.0231 North; longitude 52.9697 East, at an alitude of 27 meters. The population (est 1999) was 51,000, mostly ethnic Russian and Azeri. Balkan is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. ... Turkmenistan is divided into 5 provinces or welayatlar (singular - welayat): Ahal (capital Ashgabat) Balkan (capital Nebitdag) Dashhowuz (formerly Tashauz, capital Dashhowuz) Lebap (capital Turkmenabat, formerly known as Charjew) Mary (capital Mary). ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is a landlocked sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). ... The Azeri, also referred to as Azerbaijanian Turks, are a Turkic-Muslim people who live in the Azerbaijan, located in a crossroads between eastern Europe and western Asia. ...

History

In 1717, Russian Prince Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky landed and established a secret fortified settlement on this location, where the dry bed of a former mouth of the Amu-Darya River once emptied into the Caspian Sea. His intent was to march an army up this dry riverbed and conquer Khiva. The expedition failed, and the Russians abandoned the settlement for over 150 years. // Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance February 26-March 6 What is now the northeastern United States was paralyzed by a series of blizzards that buried the region. ... The Amu Darya (in Persian آمودریا; Darya means sea in Persian) rises in the Pamirs and flows mainly north-west through the Hindu Kush, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is a landlocked sea between Asia and Europe (European Russia). ... Khiva (alternative names include Khorasam, Khoresm, Khwarezm, Khwarizm, Khwarazm, Chiwa and Chorezm) is a city in present day Uzbekistan, in the Khorezm Province. ...

In 1869, the Russians made a second and later attempt. They named their fort Krasnovodsk (Красноводск), which the was Russian version of the original name, Kyzyl-Su (Red Water). The name was retained until 1993. Krasnovodsk was Tsarist Russia's base of operations against Khiva and Bukhara, and the nomadic Turkmen tribes. 1869 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Türkmenbaşy is a city in Turkmenistan, part of the Balkan Welayaty, on the shore of the Caspian Sea. ... Росси́йская Импе́рия, (also Imperial Russia) covers the period of Russian history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great into the Russian Empire stretching from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposition of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start of the Russian Revolution...

As the terminus of the Trans-Caspian Railway, it was an important transportation center.

In 1993 it was renamed by president Saparmurat Niyazov, after his self-proclaimed title Türkmenbaşy ("Leader of all Ethnic Turkmen"). 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov [sap-ar-moor-at ni-yaz-obv] (Turkmen Saparmyrat Nyýazow ) (born February 19, 1940) has been the most powerful figure in Turkmenistan since 1985. ...

Economy

Turkmenbashi is Central Asia's only port and sea link to Europe. Western Turkmenistan has major petroleum and natural gas reserves, and Turkmenistan's largest oil refinery is in Turkmenbashi. Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Seaport, a painting by Claude Lorrain, 1638 A port is a facility at the edge of an ocean, river, or lake for receiving ships and transferring cargo and persons to them. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petra – rock and oleum – oil), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths crust. ... Natural gas (commonly refered to as gas in many countries) is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. ... View of the Shell/Valero Martinez oil refinery An oil refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into useful petroleum products. ...

Sights

• Museum of Regional History
• Gate to former Krasnovodsk fort
• Beaches
• Khazar Turkmenbashi State Nature Reserve
• Natural History Museum

Transportation

A ferry service connects Turkmenbashi to Baku, Azerbaijan. The city is also connected to Ashgabat by Turkmenistan Airlines, as well as by train and bus. Baku (or Bakı [Baky]) pronounced ba-KEY, Баку or Bakı in Azeri, باکو (Baku) in Persian) is the capital of Azerbaijan. ... Ashgabat (Turkmenian language Aşgabat; also Ashkabat, Ashkhabad, Ashgabad, in Persian عشق آباد Ashq-abad, in Russian Ашхаба́д Ashkhabád) is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. ... Turkmenistan Airlines Ilyushin 76 Turkmenistan Airlines is the national airline of Turkmenistan. ...