26 Facts About Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, also known as Turkmenia, Turkmen Türkmenistan, and officially the Republic of Turkmenistan, is a Central Asian country.

After Kazakhstan, it is the second largest state in Central Asia.

On October 27, 1991, Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union.

Between 1991 and 2006, Turkmenistan was ruled by a dictator and President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov.

This one-of-a-kind country holds the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor Ferris wheel in a building. The Ferris wheel stands 156 feet (47.60 metres) tall, while the surrounding structure stands 187 feet tall (57 m).

The Darvaza Gas Craters, also known as the Gates to Hell by locals, is a 226-foot-wide and 98-foot-deep crater with massive deposits of oil and natural gas. In order to burn off the excess gas, Soviet engineers set it on fire in 1971, estimating that it would take a few weeks. It is still burning today!

The Ancient City of Merv in South-Eastern Turkmenistan has been destroyed several times. The Mongols conquered it and executed the entire population except for 400 artisans. According to some historians, over a million people were killed.

The Karakum Desert, also known as Black Sand in Turkic languages, covers 70% of Turkmenistan, or 135,135 square miles (350,000 square kilometres). It's also one of the world's driest deserts, with some areas receiving only 0.005 inches (0.12mm) of rain per year.

The hottest day in Turkmenistan and the Soviet Union occurred in July 1983, when the temperature reached 122 degrees Fahrenheit at the Repetek Reserve.

Turkmenistan has the world's sixth largest oil and natural gas reserves.

In March of this year, 15,000 public health workers were let go. All hospitals outside of the capital were closed a year later. This was due to the decision that everyone should be treated in the capital.

Saparmurat Niyazov, President for Life, enacted numerous laws during his reign, including the following:

Long hair and beards were prohibited for men in February 2004.

Lip-syncing was banned at concerts in 2005.

Dogs were prohibited from entering the capital due to their "unappealing odour."

All public places and government employees were prohibited from smoking.

Turkmenistan, dubbed the "North Korea of Central Asia," is one of the most difficult countries to enter, with strict visa requirements that necessitate the assistance of tour agencies and a guide.

Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for having the most public pools in one location. At 27, it is the most marble-clad building and the largest architectural star, with a mind-boggling area of 34,875 square feet (3,240 sq. m).

The days of the week and months of the year were renamed Turkmen National Symbols between 2002 and 2008.

Turkmenistan's first satellite was launched in 2015, and the following month, all satellite dishes were banned across the country in an attempt to prevent Turkmens from accessing international media.

The Ruhnama, a book written by Saparmurat Niyazov, was required to be displayed in prominent locations, including all government buildings and shops. It was to be treated the same as the Qur'an within mosques. Failure to do so would result in the mosque's destruction.

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow took office in February 2007, succeeding Saparmurat Niyazov.

The original constitution included "permanent neutrality," which was officially recognised by the UN in 1995. Turkmenistan is not a member of NATO or the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Turkmens have the right to subsidised electricity, natural gas, water, and salt until 2030, according to a People's Council Decree issued on August 17, 2003. This included the vehicles up until 2014.

The film "The Dictator" was inspired by Saparmurat Niyazov's personality and leadership cult.

Turkmenistan is ranked 178th out of 180 countries in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, with only North Korea and Eritrea ranking lower. This places it among the top ten most censored countries.