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  This newly independent Central Asian country was, from 1936 until December 1991, one of the 15 member republics of the Soviet Union. The disbanded Communist empire was immediately replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States consisting of 10 former Soviet republics; Turkmenistan, together with its four Central Asian neighbors, joined this loose alliance. Along the border with Iran rise the only mountains to be found in the country, the Kopet-Dag range. Its highest peak rises to 9,652 ft. (2,942 m.). The range is geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes. The major river is the Amu Darya, which forms the boundary with Uzbekistan in the north. Smaller rivers include the Tedzhen and the Murgab in the southeast and the Atrek in the southwest. The Kara Kurr Canal is the world's largest irrigation project. It has transformed Turkmenistan's landscape, making possible the establishment of cotton plantations on the once arid lands. Although Turkmenistan lies at the same latitude as Italy, its climate is quite different. Turkmenistan has a climate marked by great extreme; in temperature. In summer the temperature is usually above 95° F. (35: C), while in winter it drops as low as -29° F. (-34° C). What very little rain occurs, usually falls in the spring. The majority of the people are Turkmen, or Turkomans, descendants of warrior desert tribes that have inhabited the region for centuries. These ancestors arrived in Central Asia around a.d. 600. After the Arab invasions in the 7th century, they accepted Islam. Of mixed Caucasian and Mongoloid stock, they are closely related to Turks. Russians comprise the largest minority in Turkmenistan (about 10 percent); there are also Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Ukrainians, Armenians, and Azerbaijani. Most Turkmen live in rural settlements and villages, while the immigrants have settled in cities. Half of the population is urban. As nomads and horsemen warriors, Turkmen are known for their strong tribal loyalties. Many of the republic's inhabitants continue to live in traditional ways, with some women still covering their faces in public. A woman's outfit typically includes narrow trousers worn under ankle-length dresses in bright colors; men traditionally wear a long coat or tunic over a white shirt. | |
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Article Contributors Anonymous user updated 1 year ago Anonymous user updated 1 year ago |
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