Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and comparison

Turkmenistan lies in the south-west of Central Asia; its area is about 491 thousand km², population about 6–7 million (sources differ) and capital Ashgabat. It borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran and touches the Caspian Sea in the west. The state is a presidential republic. More than 80 % of its territory is the Karakum Desert, so the climate is very dry and hot with little rain. The highest point is Ayribobo Peak in the south-east (about 3,100 m); the Kopet Dag mountains in the south are earthquake-prone, and a strong earthquake hit Ashgabat in 1948. The country is among the world’s leading states in natural gas reserves, and also has oil and chemical raw materials such as iodine, sulphur and mirabilite. Water is scarce and the main source is the Amu Darya, whose water is used through the Karakum Canal, one of the longest irrigation canals in the world. Farming depends wholly on irrigation: fine-fibre cotton, wheat and vegetables; in livestock, karakul sheep and the famous Akhal-Teke horses. In industry, gas and oil extraction, oil refining, chemicals and textiles matter; the Avaza tourist zone on the Caspian coast is being developed. The great majority (about 85 %) are Turkmen; Uzbeks are the second-largest people and live mainly in the Dashoguz and Lebap regions. People live mostly in oases and along canals, while density in the desert is very low.