Ahal Province
Encyclopedia
Ahal Province is one of the welayat (provinces)
of Turkmenistan
. It is in the south-center of the country, bordering Iran
and Afghanistan
along the Kopet Dag Range
. Its area is 97160 km² (37,513.7 sq mi) and population 939,700 (2005 est.). In 2000, Ahal Province accounted for 14% of Turkmenistan's population, 11% of the total number of employed, 23% of agricultural production (by value), and 31% of the country's total industrial production.
Ahal's agriculture is irrigated by the Karakum Canal
, which stretches all the way across the province from east to west, tracking Turkmenistan's southern border. Another water source is Tejen River, which flows north from Afghanistan in the south-east corner of the province, passing through two large reservoir
s south of the city of Tejen
.
Ahal is known for the Geok Tepe
battle of 1881, today the site of an imposing new mosque, and for the Baharden underground warm lake (in the Kov Ata karst
cave), both west of Ashgabat.
The capital of Ahal Province is Anau
(or Annau), a town on the south-eastern outskirts of Ashgabat. Other notable towns are Abadan
(formerly Büzmeýin) north-west of Ashgabat and Tejen
in the south-east near the border with Mary Province
. Turkmenistan's largest city, Ashgabat, is located within the Ahal Province, but it has the status of a special capital district outside the provincial jurisdiction.
Provinces of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is divided into five provinces or welayatlar and one capital city district .The heads of the provinces are appointed by the President of Turkmenistan .-References:...
of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
. It is in the south-center of the country, bordering Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
along the Kopet Dag Range
Kopet Dag
The Kopet Dag, Kopet Dagh, or Koppeh Dagh , also known as the Turkmen-Khorasan Mountain Range is a mountain range on the frontier between Turkmenistan and Iran, extending about 650 km along the border, east of the Caspian Sea. The highest peak of the range in Turkmenistan is southwest of the...
. Its area is 97160 km² (37,513.7 sq mi) and population 939,700 (2005 est.). In 2000, Ahal Province accounted for 14% of Turkmenistan's population, 11% of the total number of employed, 23% of agricultural production (by value), and 31% of the country's total industrial production.
Ahal's agriculture is irrigated by the Karakum Canal
Qaraqum Canal
The Qaraqum Canal in Turkmenistan is one of the largest irrigation and water supply canals in the world...
, which stretches all the way across the province from east to west, tracking Turkmenistan's southern border. Another water source is Tejen River, which flows north from Afghanistan in the south-east corner of the province, passing through two large reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s south of the city of Tejen
Tejen
Tejen is an oasis city in the Karakum Desert, in Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It is located at latitude 37.3786 North; longitude 60.4961 East at an altitude of 161 meters...
.
Ahal is known for the Geok Tepe
Geok Tepe
Geok Tepe, Gökdepe or Gokdepe, is a former fortress of the Turkmens, in Turkmenistan, in the oasis of Ahal, on the Transcaspian railway, 28 miles north-west of Ashgabat. Gökdepe is the Russian version of the Turkic name meaning "Blue Hill" from the Turkmen gök "blue" and depe "hill" or "summit"...
battle of 1881, today the site of an imposing new mosque, and for the Baharden underground warm lake (in the Kov Ata karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
cave), both west of Ashgabat.
The capital of Ahal Province is Anau
Anau
Anau , Turkmenistan, capital of Ahal Province, is a city 8 kilometers southeast of Ashgabat which is connected via the M37 highway. Traces of habitation in the area date back to 3000 B.C....
(or Annau), a town on the south-eastern outskirts of Ashgabat. Other notable towns are Abadan
Abadan, Turkmenistan
Abadan is a town located near Aşgabat in the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It was founded in 1963. It was named Büzmeýin until October 2002 when its name was changed by Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov...
(formerly Büzmeýin) north-west of Ashgabat and Tejen
Tejen
Tejen is an oasis city in the Karakum Desert, in Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It is located at latitude 37.3786 North; longitude 60.4961 East at an altitude of 161 meters...
in the south-east near the border with Mary Province
Mary Province
Mary Province 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. Its area is and population 1,480,400...
. Turkmenistan's largest city, Ashgabat, is located within the Ahal Province, but it has the status of a special capital district outside the provincial jurisdiction.
Districts
Ahal Province is administratively divided into 9 districts (etraplar; singular etrap) and 2 cities (il) that have etrap status. Name changes since 1995 are shown in parentheses:- Abadan CityAbadan, TurkmenistanAbadan is a town located near Aşgabat in the Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It was founded in 1963. It was named Büzmeýin until October 2002 when its name was changed by Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov...
(formerly Büzmeýin City) - Tejen CityTejenTejen is an oasis city in the Karakum Desert, in Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It is located at latitude 37.3786 North; longitude 60.4961 East at an altitude of 161 meters...
— granted etrap status on February 3, 2008 - Akbugdaý DistrictAkbugdaý DistrictAkbugdaý District is a district of Ahal Province in Turkmenistan. It was formerly known as Gäwers District....
(formerly Gäwers District) - Altyn Asyr District — created August 23, 2000
- Babadaýhan DistrictBabadaýhan District-References:...
- Baharly DistrictBaharly DistrictBaharly District is a district of Ahal Province in Turkmenistan. It was formerly known as the Bäherden District.-References:...
(formerly Bäherden District) - Gökdepe DistrictGökdepe District-References:...
- Kaka DistrictKaka DistrictKaka District is a district of Ahal Province in Turkmenistan.In ancient times the area was a fertile agricultural plain to the north of the Kopet Dag mountain range. A number of important bronze age sites exist in the area, such as the Ulug Depe.-References:...
- Ruhabat DistrictRuhabat DistrictRuhabat District is a district of Ahal Province in Turkmenistan. Before October 2001 it was known as Ashgabat District.On October 22, 2008 , a new textile factory was officially opened in the district, providing jobs for 550 people. The factory specialises in velvet and is expected to produce some...
- Sarahs DistrictSarahs District-References:...
- Tejen DistrictTejen DistrictTejen District is a district of Ahal Province in Turkmenistan.It covers an area of 12,000 km² with an estimated 110,000 people in 2006. The main city is Tejen, located near the Hanhowuz Reservoir. The main highway is the M37 highway.-References:...