Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan

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 altitude of 27 meters. The population (est 1999) was 51,000, mostly ethnic Russian and Azeri. As the terminus of the Trans-Caspian Railway, it was an important transportation center.

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 the Khanate of Khiva. The expedition failed, and the Russians abandoned the settlement for over 150 years.

In 1869, the Russians made a second and latest attempt. They named their fort Krasnovodsk (Красноводск), which is the Russian version of the original name, Kyzyl-Su (Red Water). Krasnovodsk was Imperial Russia's base of operations against Khiva and Bukhara, and the nomadic Turkmen tribes. It fell to the Red Army in February, 1920.

In 1993 Krasnovodsk was renamed by president-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov, after his self-proclaimed title "Türkmenbaşy" ("Leader of all Turkmen"). Niyazov's successor

Economy and transport

Türkmenbaşy is Turkmenistans only port and sea link to Europe. Western Turkmenistan has major petroleum and natural gas reserves, and Turkmenistan's largest oil refinery is in Türkmenbaşy. It is the western extent of the Trans-Caspian railway.

A ferry service connects Türkmenbaşy to Baku, Azerbaijan. The city is also connected to Ashgabat by Turkmenistan Airlines, as well as by train and bus.

Sights

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

References