August 23, 2025Turkmenistan
Nusay is one of the most important historical sites in Turkmenistan, located just a few kilometers from the capital, Ashgabat. This ancient fortress once served as the capital of the great Parthian Empire, which played a significant role in the history of both East and West. Today, Nusay is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is a must-visit site for history, culture, and archaeology enthusiasts.
Today, Nusay is an archaeological complex divided into two parts: Old and New Nusaý.
Old Nusay — ruins of the fortress with strong walls and towers. This is where the life of the ancient city once flourished.
New Nusay — a complex with residential buildings and utility structures.
The city was founded in the 3rd century BC during the Arsacid dynasty and became one of the first capitals of the Parthian Empire. It housed palaces, temples, a treasury, and even famous wine cellars. Archaeologists have discovered unique artifacts in Nusay, including clay vessels, marble statues, golden ornaments, and inscriptions, which help us understand how the Parthians lived more than two thousand years ago.
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.
Learn more
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.
Learn more
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.
Learn more
