Presentation for International Educational Week 2011 about Turkmenistan.

4. • Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea to the west, Iran and
Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the north-east, and Kazakhstan to the north-west. It is the
southernmost republic of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the loose federation
created at the end of 1991 by most of the post-Soviet states.

5. • The state flag of Turkmenistan is a straight dark green with a vertical red stripe on the left,
at the flagstaff, comprising five basic carpet patterns in the vertical order. The green
background has a crescent and five -five pointed white stars in the upper left corner. Each
star represents a Turkmen velayat (state).

6. The tallest flagstaff in the world was erected at a height of 133
metres in Ashgabat. The solemn ceremony of hoisting the
national flag of Turkmenistan at the height recorded in the
Guinness Book of World Records was held in the south of the
Turkmen capital. Vice President of Guinness Book of World
Records Mr. Craig Glenday arrived in Ashgabat to take part in the
ceremony and certify the record.
The marches and patriotic songs performed by the Orchestra
of the Guard of Honour and music groups of the Ashgabat
Department of Culture added solemnity to the ceremony.
The official ceremony of hoisting the national flag of
Turkmenistan started with the march of the Guard of Honour
carrying the giant National Flag 52.5 x 35 meters in size
weighing 420 kg in their arms.

7. • The state emblem and flag are based on national traditions and steer clear of political
symbols. The number of stars represent the five regions.
• The green color has been traditionally revered by Turkmens, as has red, while carpet
patterns are a symbol of Turkmen traditional political, social, cultural and religious
views.

8. • The Karakum canal is one of the sights of Turkmenistan. The huge artificial river was built in 1955-
1962. The general length of Karakum canal is 685 mi
• Amu Darya is the largest of the rivers of Turkmenistan and central Asia. Its length is 1580 mi, of
which 622 mi are on the territory of our country.
• The river Murgap takes second place for size and economic value. The common length of the river
is 530 mi.
• BAKHARLY UNDERGROUND LAKE «KOV-ATA» – is a unique, world renowned natural lake located
100 km from Ashgabat. A warm hydrogen sulfide lake lies in a cave at the Kopet Dag foothills. 276
steps lead into the lake.
• The Caspian sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the
world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. It is bounded by Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
and Azerbaijan.

9. «Kov-Ata» cave is very popular among tourists.The lake is available all year round because of
the constant temperature of water (95-100° F) and air. Chemical analysis has shown that the
water contains a complex combination of chemical elements. Medicinal characteristics attract
a lot of visitors. The cave is also famous for its biggest settlement of bats.

10. The climate is arid continental.
Summer max temp: 65°C (150°F)
Average: 37°C (115°F)
Winter min temp: -15°C (5°F)

11. Famous Akhal -Tekes:
• Abscent -- Winner of the Prix de Dressage at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. In 1968 Abscent was
named the “World's Best Sporting Horse.”
• Dancing Brave -- Winner of the 1986 Arc de Triomphe Race. Dancing Brave holds the record for
the highest price ever paid for a horse; US$50 million.
• Melekush -- In 1956 Nikita Krushchev presented Melekush to Queen Elizabeth II of England. He
was described by the Royal Equerry as Britain's “best horse.
• Buccephalus -- The famed favorite horse of Alexander the Great.

12. History of Turkemnistan
In the
4th
century
B.C., In 330 B.C
In the late 7th and
early 8th centuries. In 1157, By 1885 In 1990,
October 27,
1991 In1995
The
Persian
Empire
was
defeate
d by the
army of
Alexand
er the
Great.
Alexander
marched
northward into
Central Asia and
founded the city
of Alexandria near
the Murgab River.
The Scythians—
fierce, nomadic
warriors from the
north—then
established the
kingdom of
Parthia, which
covered present-
day Turkmenistan
and Iran.
Central Asia came
under Arab control
after a series of
invasions.
Meanwhile, the
Oguz—the ancestors
of the Turkmen—
were migrating from
eastern Asia into
central Asia, the
Middle East, and
Asia Minor (modern
Turkey). The Arab
conquest brought
the Islamic religion
to the Oguz and to
the other people of
central Asia.
During a revolt
of powerful
landowners,
the Seljuk
Empire
collapsed. The
leaders of Khiva
took control of
Turkmenistan,
but their reign
was brief. In
1221, central
Asia suffered a
disastrous
invasion by
Mongol
warriors who
were sweeping
across the
region from
their base in
eastern Asia.
All of the
Turkmen clans
had submitted to
Russian control.
The Russians
annexed Mary
and pushed
across
Turkmenistan to
the borders of
Persia and
Afghanistan. The
building of the
Transcaspian
Railroad, which
connected
Krasnovodsk
(modern
Turkmenbashi),
Mary, and
trading centers
to the east,
opened up the
region for
economic
development.
The
Turkmen
SSR
declared
that it
would
take
greater
control
over
local
politics
and
economi
c policy.
The
governm
ent
establish
ed the
office of
presiden
t and
named
Saparmu
rat
Niyazov
to the
post.
Turkmenist
an
proclaimed
its
independe
nce from
the USSR.
Turkmeni
stan
become
neutral
country.

14. • For Turkmen, carpet making has the same importance as the pyramids do for Egypt. It is
one of the oldest arts in Turkmenistan and the region.
• In 2001, Turkmen carpet masters have weaven a giant carpet, with the area of 301 sq. m
and weight of 1,200 kg. It is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest
handmade carpet in the world.

15. Some Turkmen language 
• Salam! – Hi!
• Essalawmäleýkum! – Hello!
• Armysyñ? – What’s up?
• Nähili? – How are you?
• Gowy. Seniñki nähili? – Good. What about you?
• Meniñ adym Dmitriy. – My name is Dmitriy.
• Men Amerikadan. – I am from America.
• Men türkmençe bilemok. – I can’t speak Turkmen language.
• Hawwo! – Yes!
• Ýok! – No!
• Jijim! – Hey buddy!
• A gyz! –Hey girl!
• Ay oglan! – Hey boy!
• Ýylgyr! – Smile! =)

16. First president of Turkmenistan
Saparmurat Niyazov
Second president of Turkmenistan
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow

18. •Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture
in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted
in cotton, placing the country in the top 10-15 producers. It also possesses the world's
fourth largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993,
Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states
because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp
increase in hard currency earnings. As in the Soviet era, central planning and state
control pervade the system, and the Niyazov government (in power 1991–2006)
consistently rejected market reform programs. The state subsidizes a wide variety of
commodities and services.

19. • In an effort to attract foreign investment and tourism to Turkmenistan, the
government has focused on infrastructure, construction of quality
accommodation, including several 4-star hotels, and development of conference
and business facilities. Turkmenistan now hosts the largest and most modern
airport in Central Asia. Flights arrive daily from Birmingham, England, Germany,
India, Iran, Istanbul, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.

28. • Central News Paper
http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/_en/
• Embassy of United States in Turkmenistan
http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov/
• Internet newspaper
http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/
• “The feel the Turkmenistan in the United States and beyond ”
http://www.ashgabat.us/
• Turkmenistan Country Specific Information for travel
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1047.html
• Peace corps web site about Turkmenistan
http://www.chaihana.com/
• The Akhal –Teke Association of America
http://www.akhal-teke.org/

29. • Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) — is a scholarship student exchange program administered by the U.S.
Department of State through funding from the Freedom Support Act. The program provides
opportunities for high school students (ages 15-17) from former Soviet Union (including Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine)
to spend a year in the United States, living with a host family and attending an American high school.
• The program was created in 1992 after former Senator Bill Bradley’s conviction "that the best way to
ensure long-lasting peace and understanding between the U.S. and Eurasia is to enable young people
to learn about democracy firsthand through experiencing it". Since its inception in 1993, more than
18,000 high school students from 12 Eurasian countries (two more countries which used to participate
in the program are Belarus and Uzbekistan) have studied in the U.S. under the program.

30. • PAX - Program of Academic Exchange is a non-profit educational organization that
promotes and arranges international student exchange to foster the positive
development of the world's young people and to support international peace,
friendship and cross-cultural understanding.