20 horrifying facts about Turkmenistan

20 horrifying facts about Turkmenistan

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When I mention Turkmenistan, people often look at me with confused eyes and then ask what it is - a place, a city, what?

This Central Asian country is located between Kazakhstan, Iran and a vast desert, has been ruled by a dictator for 15 years with some really strange laws.

A blend of Disneyland meets North Korea with its incredible architecture but lack of freedom, the country has a rich history of violence.

It is the meeting point between East and West.

Today we are going to look at 20 facts about this little-known country.

Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union on October 27, 1991,

Turkmenistan was ruled by dictator and lifelong president, Saparmurat Niyazov from 1991 to 2006.

This unique country holds the Guinness World Record for the largest indoor ferris wheel in an architecture.

The Darvaza Crater, or the Gate of Hell known to locals, is a crater 226 feet (60 m) wide and 98 feet (30 m) deep with huge oil and natural gas reserves.

Castle Merv in Southeast Turkmenistan, is a city that has been completely destroyed many times.

The Karakum deserts, or Black Sand in the Turkic languages, account for 70% of Turkmenistan, or 135,135 square miles (350,000 km²).

July 1983 officially saw the hottest day in Turkmenistan and the Soviet Union - it was recorded at the Repetek Reserve at 122 F.

Turkmenistan has the 6th largest oil and natural gas reserves in the world.

In March 2014, 15,000 public health workers were fired from their roles.

Lifetime President Saparmurat Niyazov enforced many laws during his tenure, here are just a few:

Dubbed North Korea of Central Asia, Turkmenistan ranks as one of the hardest to enter, with strict visa procedures that require the support of travel agencies and guides.

Ashgabat holds the Guinness World Record for the most public swimming pools in a single place.

From 2002 to 2008, the days of the week and the months of the year were renamed Turkmen's National Symbol.

The year 2015 saw Turkmenistan's first satellite launch, in the same month all satellite dishes were banned nationwide in an attempt to prevent Turkmen from gaining access to international media.

Ruhnama - a book written by Saparmurat Niyazov must be displayed in prominent locations, all government buildings and shops.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow took power in Turkmenistan in February 2007, succeeding Saparmurat Niyazov.

A major part of the original constitution was the "permanent neutrality" officially recognized by the UN in 1995. Turkmenistan has no relationship with NATO or the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

According to the Decree of the People's Council, on 17 August 2003, the people of Turkmenistan enjoyed the right to use electricity, natural gas, water and salt that subsided until 2030. As of 2014, this.

Saparmurat Niyazov's respect for personality and leadership was used as the basis for the film "The Dictator".

According to the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan ranked 178/180, just behind North Korea and Eritrea.

We can travel all day to this wonderful country in Asia.

After learning all the facts about this Turkmenistan, it becomes clear that this little-known country deserves to be on anyone's travel list.

It has definitely come to me.