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.
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[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-Dеrya 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]
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 Ashbagat 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, and by train to Nukus and Urgench(all in Uzbekistan).
[edit] Miscellaneous
Some 70 kilometers south of Türkmenabat is the Repetek Desert Reserve, famed for its zemzen, or "desert crocodiles". Turkmenabat is unique in that it has a large (30-40%) ethnic Uzbek population, which has heavily influenced the area's culture and customs.
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