Ashgabat

Ashgabat

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Askhabad, Poltoratsk, Ashkhābād ‘The City of Love’ or ‘Lovely City’ from the Turkish aşk or Persian eşk, both ‘love’, and ābād. Founded in 1881 as a Russian military fort, it was given the name of a nearby Turkmen settlement. In 1919 it was renamed after a local Bolshevik revolutionary hero, Pavel Poltoratsky (1888–1918), who was one of the leading organizers of the struggle for Soviet power in Turkestan. In 1927 the original name was restored, although spelt slightly differently. This was changed again in 1992 to reflect Turkmen spelling after the country achieved independence in 1991. In 1924 the city became the capital of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic which, a year later, joined the Soviet Union; in 1991 it became the capital of Turkmenistan.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Ashgabat." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Ashgabat

Ashgabat (formerly Ashkhabad) Capital of the central Asian republic of Turkmenistan, located 40km (25mi) from the Iranian border. Founded in 1881 as a Russian fortress between the Kara-Kum Desert and the Kopet Dagh Mountains, it was largely rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1948. The city was known as Poltaratsk from 1919 to 1927. Its present name was adopted after the republic attained independence from the former Soviet Union in 1992. Industries: textiles, carpets, silk, metalware, glass, light machinery. Pop. (1995) 604,700.

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Ashgabat

Ashgabat , formerly Ashkhabad, city (1991 pop. 412,200), capital of Turkmenistan, near the border with Iran, on the Trans-Caspian RR. The city has textile, motion picture, and crafts industries. Ashgabat was founded in 1881 as a fortress. From 1919 to 1927 it was named Poltoratsk. An earthquake in 1948 virtually destroyed the city, which stands in a major fault zone. The southern section of the city has been extensively developed since the 1990s. The Turkmen Academy of Sciences is in Ashgabat.

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"Ashgabat." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Homage paid to the victims of historic Ashgabat tragedy.
News Wire article from: Times of Central Asia; 11/28/2008
Could Ashgabat Help Peace Talks in Afghanistan?
News Wire article from: Times of Central Asia; 5/31/2011
Moscow tries to reinstate influence on Ashgabat.
News Wire article from: Times of Central Asia; 7/4/2008

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