Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is an independent, neutral secular republic emerged on the political map of the Central Asia in October of 1991 year after collapse of the former USSR. Turkmenistan borders on Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan and the inland Caspian Sea. It territory is spread for 1,100km from east to west and for 650 km from north to south and is totalling 488,1 thousand square km. It has 4.5 million inhabitants. The capital city of Turkmenistan is Ashgabad - a home town for 550 thousand of its inhabitants. Administratively Turkmenistan consists of 5 regions. 78% of its population are Turkmen. Dominating religion is Islam. The state language is Turkmen (of Turkic group) but in the towns majority of population also speaks good Russian. Kara Kum Desert is known as one of the greatest deserts of the planet and it covers 80 % of the country"s territory. The highest point of Turkmenistan is 2942m high and is located in the Kopetdag Mountains. Turkmenistan is the country of most rich history. It is here where such ancient civilizations like Margiana, Parthia and Midia were born to thrive and perish. Remains of ancient towns of Nissa, Merv, Margush, Annau and others still witness to the former prosperity and power of these mighty states. The Great Silk Road went through here for centuries.
The climate of Turkmenistan is extreme continental. Turkmenistan is sometimes epithetised as a "country of eternal sunshine". Winter here is short and not so cold. The average monthly temperature in January ranges from -10oC to +3oC. Summer is hot and dry. The average temperature in July is +35o to +45oC. Atmospheric precipitation here is extremely is low: 250 mm per year.
Turkmenistan is the world"s forth largest producer of natural gas. The country also has a substantial capacity in petroleum extraction, oil processing and export. The Chemical industry produces mineral fertilizers and plastic products. In the agricultural sector, Turkmenistan is one of the world"s major producers of high quality long-staple cotton.