The Turkmenistan, 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 (Turkmen SSR). Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states. It is bordered by Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, Uzbekistan to the east and northeast, Kazakhstan to the north and northwest and the Caspian Sea to the west.
Turkmenistan's GDP growth rate of 6.1% in 2009 ranks 16th in the world, but these figures are subject to wide margins of error. It possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Although it is wealthy in natural resources in certain areas, most of the country is covered by the Karakun (Black Sand) Desert.
Until recently the Turkmen government was a single-party system; this system was considered not to meet even the most basic standards of democracy. Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov (called "Türkmenbasy — "leader of the Turkmens") until his sudden death on December 21, 2006. Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was elected the new president on February 11, 2007.
Capital and biggest city is Ashgabad
The President of Turkmnistan is it's Head of State and the Head of Government
The Country has one zoo mentioned on these pages in the city of Ashgabad
Most western Countrys do need a Visa
International callingcode is +993
The countrys curency is the Turkmen New Manat (TMT)