Ashgabat

cities in Central Asia. The city was founded in 1881 as a military fortification. In 1919 it became the capital of the Turkmen SSR, and since 1991 it has been the capital of independent Turkmenistan. Ashgabat is located in the south of Turkmenistan, in the foothills of Kopetdag, in the valley of the Akhal River. The climate here is sharply continental, with little precipitation and high temperatures. The city is known for its architectural monuments, such as the Memorial Complex “Halk Hakydasy” (national memory), the mosque “Tiirkmenbasy”, the State Opera and Ballet Theater and others. Ashgabat is also famous for its green parks and squares, which occupy about 40% of the city's territory.