Young women with two braids and a small scarf are unmarried; those with one braid and a big kerchief have been wed...More than 70 different nationalities reside in Turkmenistan...Two giant earthquakes (10 points on the Richter scale) in 1895 and 1924 flattened Krasnovodsky and Ashgabat respectively. A 1948 quake destroyed Ashgabat in less than a minute...Yurta, the traditional tent (it has a collapsible wooden frame and is covered with reeds and felt) is still used today.

The tent is erected in the front yard and used as a summer house...National dress: men wear high, shaggy sheepskin hats and red robes over white shirts. Women wear long sack-dresses over narrow trousers (the pants are trimmed with a band of embroidery at the ankle). Female headdresses usually consist of silver jewelry. Bracelets and brooches are set with semi-precious stones...The Turkmens are famous for their horses, breeding and training. Princess Anne of Great Britain purchased Turkmen horses."

U.S. Government Information Resources

• CIA World Factbook on Turkmenistan.
• Department of State Consular Information Sheet on Turkmenistan.
• Library of Congress Country Study on Turkmenistan.
• U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
  • Consular Section in Ashgabat

Weather

• Weather information for Turkmenistan from Weather Underground.