Mary Province

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Mary Province (Mary welaýaty / Мары велаяты) is one of the Welayatlar of Turkmenistan. It is in the south-east of the country, bordering Afghanistan. Its capital is the city of Mary. It has an area of 87,000 square kilometers and a population of 1,146,800. The average population density is 13.2 persons per square kilometer, but this figure reaches 150-200 per square kilometer in the most developed oases.

The region's industry includes natural gas extraction, electric power generation and chemical production. It accounts for 76% of Turkmenistan's electricity, 81% of fertilizer production, 100% pure wool, 40% of textiles, 81% of leather and 23% of footwear. In terms of agriculture, this region also produces 31% of Turkmenistan's cotton fibres, 32% of its vegetable oil, and 26% of farming products.

Another feature of this region is the Qaraqum Canal, which runs through the province and allows agriculture and to be developed in this inhospitable region of the Karakum Desert.

The major archeological site of Merv is located in the welayat.

Mary Province is divided into 11 etraplar (singular: etrap) and one city. Name changes since 1995 are shown in parentheses: [1][2]