Mary - Hearth of the ancient Eastern civilizations

Mary Velayat, with a total area of 87000 km2, is located in the southeast of Turkmenistan. According to the international experts, the world’s second-largest Galkynysh gas field (26.2 trillion m3) is situated in Mary Velayat.

The ancient Merv (Margush, Margiana) is the historical and architectural pearl of the region. The world's leading scientists and archaeologists have put the ancient culture of Margush on a par with the great civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. The discovery of the fifth, unknown civilization of Margiana forced to revise the history of the ancient East. Scientists consider the legendary Margush the world's oldest home of the first religion – Zoroastrianism. Moreover, historical artefacts related to Buddhism, including in the head of Buddha, manuscripts in Sanskrit, were discovered here.

Merv was one of the most ancient cities in Central Asia. To date, it is the largest archaeological site in the region. A number of settlements have been preserved here (Erk Gala, Gyaur Gala, Sultan Gala, Abdyllahan Gala and Bayramaly Gala). The Great and Little Gyz Gala, the Muhammad ibn Zayd and Askhab Mausoleums, the Hoja Yusup Hamadani Mosque and the grandiose Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, unanimously considered a masterpiece of medieval eastern architecture, are among the most interesting monuments.

Al Horezmi, Omar Hayyam, Al Mervezi, Al Samani, Enveri, the scientist and poet Muhammet Envery Abyverdi, as well as the famous poets Hassan Gaznevi, Abd al-Vasi, Amir Muizzi, and other great thinkers of the Middle Ages lived and worked in Merv.

The Karakum Desert covered many of the oldest monuments of Margush. First, it is the palace and temple complex of Gonur Depe, the capital of the great country of Margush discovered by archaeologists. The inscription of the Ancient Merv State Historical and Cultural Park on the UNESCO World Heritage List confirmed the uniqueness of the ancient settlement.

The natural complexes in the Badhyz State Nature Reserve have no analogues in Eurasia. Thus, it is inscribed on the list of the most important reserves in the world. The closed Yeroylanduz depression, situated 500 metres below sea level (total area of 300 km2), is one of the most impressive natural sights in Badhyz. The depression attracts travellers with the ancient, extinct volcanoes and marine fossils. In earlier times, the Tethys Sea occupied this area. The unique depression replaced the volcanoes, once acting on the sea floor. Intricately scattered domed and slightly long hills are the vents of extinct volcanoes. The salt marshes where table salt was mined are located between the hills. There are beautiful andesite-basalt formations and the weathered volcanic stocks on the hills. During the rainy season, it turns into an extremely salty lake.

With the coming of spring, Badhyz becomes one of the most beautiful places on the Earth. At the end of March-April, a blood-red carpet of blooming roemeria, poppies and tulips appears here. Ferula that has become a visiting card of the Reserve grows on large steppe areas. The plant reaches a height of 1.5 metres. In late April, Eremostachys covers the steppe with a green and white carpet.