Turkmenistan — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Turkmenistan: capital Ashgabat, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Turkmenistan is in Asia. Its capital is Ashgabat.

Climate

Subtropical desert with extremely hot, dry summers and mild winters

Flat-to-rolling sandy desert (Karakum) covering about 80% of the country; mountains along southern border

Turkmenistan has the "Door to Hell" - a gas crater burning since 1971.

Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the most white marble-clad buildings.

The Akhal-Teke horse breed, native to Turkmenistan, is known for its metallic sheen coat.

1881: Conquered by the Russian Empire after the Battle of Geok Tepe

1924: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic established

1991: Declares independence from the Soviet Union

1995: United Nations recognizes Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality

2006: Death of President Niyazov; Berdimuhamedow takes power

2022: Serdar Berdimuhamedow succeeds his father as president