Balkan Province
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Balkan Province (Balkan welaýaty / Балкан велаяты) is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. It is in the far west of the country, bordering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, and Iran. Its capital is Balkanabat, formerly known as Nebitdag. It has an area of 138,000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 424,700 people. Its population density of 3.3 persons per square kilometer is the lowest in Turkmenistan.
Other cities include: Turkmenbashi (Türkmenbaşy), Gumdag, Serdar, Hazar, Etrek, Esenguly.
Balkan Province has significant energy reserves, which account for 94% of Turkmenistan's natural gas production and 12% of its petroleum production. It also generates 18% of the country's electric power. Due to the very low water supply, agriculture is negligible, and only 4.5% of Turkmenistan's arable lands are within the province.
It is divided into 6 etraplar (singular: etrap) and 4 cities. Name changes since 1995 are shown in parentheses: [1][2]
- Balkanabat city
- Gumdag city
- Hazar city (formerly Çeleken)
- Türkmenbaşy city
- Bereket etrap (formerly Gazanjyk)
- Esenguly etrap
- Etrek etrap (formerly Gyzyletrek)
- Magtymguly etrap (formerly Garrygala)
- Serdar etrap (formerly Gyzylarbat)
- Türkmenbaşy etrap
| Provinces of Turkmenistan |  |
|---|---|
| Ahal | Balkan | Daşoguz | Lebap | Mary | |
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