August 22, 2025Turkmenistan
Kow-Ata (Kowata) is a natural underground lake located within the Kow-Ata Cave in Turkmenistan. It is renowned for its warm, mineral-rich waters, long believed to have therapeutic properties. The lake lies about 90 kilometers west of Ashgabat and is a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
The water in Kow-Ata remains consistently warm throughout the year at around 35–37°C, allowing swimming even in winter. It is rich in minerals, especially sulfur, giving it a distinct odor and reputedly helping with certain skin and respiratory conditions.
The Kow-Ata Cave itself is a unique natural attraction. To reach the lake, visitors must descend a steep staircase, plunging deep into the earth. The air becomes humid and saturated with mineral vapors, creating the distinct atmosphere of an underground world. Kow-Ata is not only a lake but also a serene retreat, helping to relieve stress and fatigue. Tourists describe swimming in the lake as an unusual experience: the water envelops the body, creating a sense of lightness and relaxation. Nearby, small resting areas allow visitors to change clothes and leave their belongings. Despite its popularity, the lake maintains a sense of seclusion, as it is situated in a mountainous area far from major settlements.
Kow-Ata stands out for its natural beauty, subterranean mystery, and the therapeutic qualities of its mineral waters. It is an ideal destination for those seeking to combine recreation with wellness, as well as for anyone wishing to experience the underground world of Turkmenistan.
Kopetdag is a mountain range stretching along the southern border of Turkmenistan, between Ashgabat and Iran. These mountains are not only a natural boundary but also play a crucial role in shaping the region’s climate and water resources. The height of Kopetdag reaches approximately 2,940 meters at the peak of Mount Kunya-Uran, offering picturesque views of the plains, valleys, and the city of Ashgabat. Kopetdag is rich in diverse flora and fauna, including species unique to this region. The mountain slopes are covered with forests, shrubs, and steppe vegetation, and numerous springs and streams feed rivers and replenish underground water sources. The mountains are also significant for tourism. Hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts can find a range of routes here, from easy valley walks to challenging climbs up steep slopes. In winter, some areas of Kopetdag receive snow, creating a striking contrast with the hot desert lowlands. Kopetdag also preserves traces of history and culture. Archaeological sites, ancient settlements, and fortresses in the region tell the story of human life here over millennia. Kopetdag is not only a natural wonder but also a place where history, culture, and nature intersect, creating a unique landscape that attracts tourists, researchers, and lovers of active recreation.
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Running along the eastern edge of Turkmenistan is the south-western ridge of the Gissar Range of the Pamir-Alay mountain system, named Kugitang since the dawn of time. Another name, Koytendag, means “impassable mountains”. The western slopes of the Range are truly impassable. They are jagged with numerous gorges reminiscent of canyons with several-hundred-meter-high precipices. The region is one of the richest in Turkmenistan in natural and mineral resources. It boasts large deposits of rock and potassium salt, native sulfur, gypsum, celestine, polymetals, barites, marble onyx, cladding stones, and other building materials. Turkmenistan’s highest peak, Ayrybaba, is in the Koytendag. It is the area of strikingly beautiful natural scenery, especially in the winter, when the summit and access routes are covered in snow, which can be several meters deep in some places. The Zeravshan juniper is the only plant to survive in this snow-clad terrain. Yet, even this mighty and usually tall, branchy tree takes an unusual trailing form, withstanding strong winds. In spring, the flower-strewn area is ablaze with color. In February, bright crocuses bloom in thawed patches almost at the summit. Markhors, argalis, and lynx – animals listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan – are found in juniper forests on the mountain slopes. The Koytendag is home to a wealth of wildlife with a total of 1,170 species, of which about 1,000 are plant species. The Koytendag State Nature Reserve helps to protect natural landmarks: the Umbardere Gorge, Kyrkgyz Gorge, Daraydere Canyon, the Unabi tree (jujube) grove, thermal springs near the foothills of Gaynarbaba, the centuries-old plane trees in the village of Koyten, the age-old mulberry tree in the Khojagaravul Gorge, the Karlyuk Karst Caves, and the Dinosaur Plateau.
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Badhyz Nature Reserve (Turkm. Bathyz goraghanasy ) is located in Mary province in southern Turkmenistan. Covering an area of 877 square kilometers, it was established in 1941 to protect the ecosystems of the Badhyz plateau between the Kuschka and Tejen rivers. The reserve is a semi-desert region with hills and plains, distinguished by unique flora and fauna characteristic of this part of Central Asia. The administration of the reserve also manages three sanctuaries: Kyzyljar, Pulihatum, and Chemenabit, all established in 1956. Badhyz Reserve has attracted the attention of scientists since its inception. Botanists, zoologists, and geographers have studied the nature here, while efforts have been made to protect kulan and goitered gazelles. The terrain of the reserve is varied: hills range from 20 to 200 meters in height, gradually rising in the southwest to 800 meters, forming a mountainous landscape. One of the most remarkable areas is the Erolanduz basin, a 20-kilometer-long depression with a saline lake up to 500 meters deep. The edges of the basin are surrounded by black volcanic and rocky outcrops, and traces of ancient plants can be found on andesite-basalt layers. Water resources in Badhyz Reserve are scarce. The main sources of water for animals are the Kuschka and Tejen rivers, the freshwater springs Akarshem and Nerdevanly, and temporary pools. The reserve plays a crucial role in protecting rare species, such as kulan and goitered gazelles, and preserving the unique natural landscapes of southern Turkmenistan.
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