Türkmenabat

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Türkmenabat (Cyrillic Turkmen: Түркменабат; formerly Chardzhou, also spelled as Chardjui, Charjou, Chardzhev, Chärjew or Charjew; Cyrillic Turkmen: Чәрҗев; Russian: Чарджоу) is a town in Turkmenistan, capital of the Lebap Province. As of 1999, it had a population of approximately 203,000 people.

The name Chardjui is Persian (چهارجوی) and means "Four streams".

1 Geography
2 History
3 Transportation
4 Miscellaneous

[edit] Geography

Türkmenabat is located at latitude 39.1014 North; longitude 60.5750 East, at an altitude of 187 meters on the banks of the Amu-Darya River, near the border with Uzbekistan.

[edit] History

Although now a modern (i.e. post-Soviet) industrial city, Türkmenabat has a history of over 2000 years. The modern city was founded in 1886, during the construction of the Trans-Caspian railway. Its role of railway junction, and the high fertility of the Amu-Darya region, made it the major trade center for agricultural products in the northeast region of the country. The city has food processing, textile (cotton processing and silk) factories.

In ancient times, it was known as Āmul. The great river Amu Darya was named after this city.^{[citation needed]} (see also Amol)

Charjew was Turkmenistan's industrial and transport hub during the Soviet period, but most of these related jobs and transport opportunities have been relocated to Ashgabat or closed since the Turkmenistan's independence.

[edit] Transportation

The city is connected with the Turkmen capital Ashgabat by Turkmenistan Airlines and also by train passing by Nukus and Urgench (both in Uzbekistan).

[edit] Miscellaneous

Some 70 kilometers south of Türkmenabat is the Repetek Desert Reserve, famed for its zemzen, or "desert crocodiles".

Türkmenabat is unique in that it has a large (30-40%) ethnic Uzbek population, which has heavily influenced the area's culture and customs.

Turkmenabat also has many beautiful places. Polechudes is a park where people celebrate all national holidays. Teenagers go to Polechudes to meet their friends. They breakdance, cycle, and skateboard.

Coordinates: 39°5′N, 63°34′E