POPULATION: 4.083.000

CAPITAL CITY: ASHGABAT

POPULATION: 548.000

IMPORTANT CITIES: MARY (The Ancient MERV), CHARDJEV, DASHHOVUS (TASHAUZ), TURKMENBASHI (KRASNOVODSK), NEBIT-DAG.

ETHNIC STRUCTURE: 78% - TURKMENS, 9% - UZBEKS, 6% - RUSSIANS, 2% - KAZAKHS and 6% - OTHERS.

RELIGION: 88% - MUSLIM (SUNNI-HANEFI), 10% - CHRISTIAN, 2% - OTHERS.

LITERACY RATE: 98%

BORDERS: IN THE NORTH - KAZAKHSTAN and UZBEKISTAN, IN THE NORTH EAST and EAST - UZBEKISTAN, IN SOUTH-EST - AFGHANISTAN, IN THE SOUTH - IRAN, WEST OF TURKMENISTAN IS COVERED BY THE CASPIAN SEA.

LANGUAGE: THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IS TURKMEN, OTHER.

LANGUAGES SPOKEN: RUSSIAN

TIME: GMT+HOURS ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

ELECTRICITY: 220 volts AC, 50Am. Round 2 pin continental are standard.

GEOGRAPHY: Turkmenistan is a neutral, democratic, secular state, founded on the 27^th of October, 1991. On the 2^nd of March, 1992, Turkmenistan became a rightful member of the UNO. 80% of Turkmenistan territory is covered by one of the largest desert in the world named as KARAKUM.

CLIMATE: The climate of Turkmenistan is sharply continental. Turkmenistan is called as a country of the eternal sunshine. Winter is short and not so cold. The average temperature in January -10⁰ +3⁰ C. Summer is hot and dry. The average temperature in July is +35⁰ - +45⁰ C. Autumn is rather warm with plenty of vegetables and fruits, melons and watermelons. Precipitation is law: 250 mm per year.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: January 1 - New Year Day.   January 12 - Memory Day.    February 19 -Turkmenistan State Flag Day.    March 8 - International Women's Day.   March 21 - Spring Day.   May 9 - Victory Day.    May 18 - Revival & Unity Day.   October 6 - Sorrow Day.   October 27-28 - Turkmenistan Independence Day.   December 12 - Turkmen Neutrality Day.