Dunk \ud83d\udc1d<\/a> \/ Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n“Gate” in Turkmen, Darvaza was a desert settlement that had long been neglected until lately.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nA gas cavern containing toxic gases was discovered in 1971 by geologists and their equipment, which they chose to burn off so it would not leak.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nA few days after the locals were told that the flames would die down, the Darvaza Gas Crater continued to blaze uncontrolled. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was decided to move the people, and the scary name “Door to Hell” was given to the harmless crater.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nOne of Turkmenistan’s most enigmatic landmarks was unearthed by chance. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAt first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a deep 20-meter crater in the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, as you get closer, you’ll see thousands of flames, a few of which rise to a height of 16 meters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nFor those who have never seen Darvaza Gas Crater, the peculiar red glow can be seen clearly from a distance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nTurkmenistan’s Darvaza is one of the many fascinating oddities you should not miss while exploring the country.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAddress: Derweze, Turkmenistan<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nGeok-Tepe Fortress<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/picture>Geok-Tepe Fortress is one of the best places to go in Turkmenistan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf Turkmenistan’s history fascinates you, this fortress is waiting for you to explore.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Russians built the Geok-Tepe Fortress in 1869 on the coast of the Caspian Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was used as an outpost for the armies transferring to Central Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nGoek-Tepe Fortress is part of Turkmenistan Tours because it was once a Turkmen fortress in the garden of Ahal, which is close to Ashgabat.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe name of the fortress comes from the Russian translation of the Turkmen name “Gokdepe,” which means “Blue Hill.” <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn Turkmen, “gok” means “blue,” and “deep” means “hills.”<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nGoek-Tepe Fortress is among the great areas to see in Ashgabat, but it also has a horrible history. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn August 1879, Russians tried to take over the fortress for the first time, but Turkmen defenders won the battle.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn December of 1880, General Mikhail Skobelev led 6,000 Russians in an attack on Goek-Tepe. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe battle of Geok Tepe occurred 23 days later. On January 12, 1881, Russian forces broke through the wall by setting off a mine in a hole in the wall.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nBe sure to include this destination at the top of your Turkmenistan itinerary!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAddress: G\u00f6kdepe District, Turkmenistan<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nGiant Ruhnama<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/picture>Giant Ruhnama is one of the best places to go in Turkmenistan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA big monument to a strange book that Turkmenistan’s longtime dictator wrote<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Turkmen president has been in power for a long time, and there is a cult of personality around him in the Ruhnama. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn 2001, he authored the Ruhnama, or The Book of the Soul, as a spiritual guide for the Turkmen people and to try to make the country more “Turkmen.”<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Ruhnama is a strange mix of moral ideals, fairytales, religious rules, and rewritten history. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn 2001, the first volume came out, and three years later, in 2004, the second volume came out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nNiyazov’s cult of personality has led to many strange things, like the Giant Ruhnama. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis has made Ashgabat among the most politically strange places in the world, with golden monuments of the dictator and no “non-Turkmen” things like theaters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSo far, Niyazov seems to be the only author who is proud enough of his work to build a huge monument to it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSee the enormous book of the famed dictator as you explore Turkmenistan’s capital.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAddress: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nHasardag Reserve<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/picture>Hasardag Reserve is one of the best places to go in Turkmenistan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA dose of nature is what every traveler in Turkmenistan needs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nWithin the boundaries of the Balkan Vilayat is the S\u00fcnt-Hasardag Nature Reserve. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe unique and stunning flora and fauna of Kopedaga are to be preserved in their natural state thanks to the reserve’s efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nA significant number of plant species have their origins in Ireland and the Mediterranean. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe evolution of the plants and the climate both played a role in the development of plants native to Central Asia, which helped to decorate the nature reserve. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are more than 1266 distinct types of plant species.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe reserve is regarded as among the sites where wild relatives of cultivated crops thrive. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHere, wild relatives of wild apples, figs, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, pistachios, and cherries can grow in abundance.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe unusual animals that live in the reserve There are numerous kinds of lepidopteran insects that call this place home.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to this, there is assistance for the leopard population as well as other wild creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSee the wonders of nature in this magnificent nature reserve in Turkmenistan!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nAddress: Balkan Province, Turkmenistan<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n