Why Turkmenistan is Going in My Bucket List Quiz

Answer: Door to Hell

In 1971 while drilling for natural gas, Soviet geologists drilled into an cavern full of natural gas. Suddenly the earth beneath the drilling rig caved in, leaving a large crater. To avoid poisonous gas seeping from below, the decision was made to burn it off, a common practice at the time.

It was believed the fire would only burn for a couple of days but over 40 years later the gas is still burning. The local people dubbed the caved in cavern "The Door to Hell". This flaming hole in the earth is truly spectacular when viewed at night.

Answer: Pamir-Alay Mountains

Aýrybaba is a beautiful mountain found in the Köýtendag Range of Pamir-Alay Mountain chain. Located in the south-eastern part of the country, it is the 21st highest mountain in Asia. On either side of the mountain range are river valleys and so the sight is truly dramatic.

Answer: The Silk Road

Located on the ancient travel route known as "The Silk Road", Merv is one of the most important archaeological sites in the nation. The location has actually been the home to several cities all of which has left their ruins at the location. Merv has been known as Alexandria, Antiochia, and Achaemenid Satrapy. Around the 12th century Merv may have been the largest city in the world.

The oasis of Merv located at the southern edge of the Karakum Desert still has a small permanent population. Tourism, the raising of silkworms and the weaving of carpets, as well as its precious water, are the main foundations of the local economy.

Answer: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

You would be able to visit all of these interesting sites except the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which is located in Tanzania on the east coast of Africa. Konye-Urgench is located in the far north-central part of the country just south of the border with Uzbekistan.

This municipality is part of a large oasis region located near the Amu-Darya river delta. In 1221 Genghis Khan attacked and attempted to destroy the area resulting in a horrible massacre of the majority of the citizens. Periodic flooding by the Amu-Darya has also caused periodic destruction of the area.

Answer: False

The western part of the country borders the Caspian Sea not Lake Baikal which is located in modern-day Russia. The city of Turkmenbasy is located on this body of water and is being rebuilt and refurbished as the country's main tourist city. It has lovely beaches, is home to the Museum of Regional History as well as the Natural History Museum.

A day trip can take you to the Khazar Nature Reserve and the city is home to the country's largest airport.

Answer: Horse

The Akhal-Teke is one of the oldest surviving horse breeds. These beautiful horses were bred for endurance and are noted for their golden-metallic coat. There are less than 4,000 of these special animals in existence. It is believed that the bloodline of these horses may be found in varying degrees in the Thoroughbred and Arabian breeds of horse.

A visit to the national Turkmenbashi Stud Farm for Akhal-Teke breeding should be on every visitor's list.

Answer: An underground mineral lake

Located in the south central part of the country is the Kov Ata, which means father of caves. A visit to Bakharden will allow you, for a small fee, to bathe in this underground mineral lake which has a constant temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). Just remember that this is a day trip as there are no motels in the town.

Answer: The Ashgabat Earthquake Memorial and Museum

The trembling of the Earth during an earthquake is symbolized by the globe being balanced on the pointed horns of a bull. This impressive monument found in the city of Ashgabat was built in memory of the 100,000 people killed during the city's devastating 1948 earthquake.

The museum is located underneath the sculpture and contains many displays and photos that depict the horror of that day. The city of Ashgabat is located at the edge of the Kopet Dag mountain range and is the capital of Turkmenistan.

Answer: Parthian

The Parthian civilization was one of the most influential empires in the Near East from the mid 3rd century BCE to 224CCE. They were the arch-enemies of the Roman Empire which bordered it to the west. The ruins of Old Nisa are another one of Turkmenistan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

While visiting these ruins it will become apparent that is was strategically built with its back to the local mountains, overlooking one of the many flat valleys found in the country.

Answer: True

While there is no snow in the Kopet Dag Mountains, former president Saparmurat Niyazov had a ski resort built. By using large snow making machines, there are now five ski resorts in Turkmenistan. They are not open all year around and snow skiing is not a national pastime.

While there are a lot of things to see and do in this country, snow skiing is not one of the biggest reasons to visit.