Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan

Railway station in Krasnovodsk, 1902

The same railway station in Türkmenbaşy in 2015

In 1869, the Russians invaded a second time. Having captured it, they named their fort Krasnovodsk (Красноводск), which is the Russian version of the original name, Kyzyl-Su (Red Water). The fort, Krasnovodsk, served as Imperial Russia's base of operations against Khiva and Bukhara, and the nomadic Turkmen tribes.

The railway had originally begun from Uzun-Ada on the Caspian Sea, but the terminus was shifted north to the harbour at Krasnovodsk.[1]

It fell to the Red Army in February, 1920.

On November 21, 1939 was formed Krasnovodsk Oblast with the administrative center in Krasnovodsk. The oblast was repeatedly liquidated and restored (January 23, 1947 liquidated; April 4, 1952 restored; December 9, 1955 liquidated; December 27, 1973 restored; August 25, 1988 eliminated).

Hotel Serdar in the Awaza tourist zone

January 10, 1991 in the former Krasnovodsk region formed Balkan Region (May 18, 1992 - velayat) with the center in Balkanabat. In 1993, Krasnovodsk was renamed by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov, after his self-proclaimed title Türkmenbaşy ("Leader of all Turkmen").

Second President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow pledged, in July 2007, to invest one billion dollars into a project slated to turn Türkmenbaşy into a major tourist resort – the center of the Awaza tourist zone with 60 modern hotels to be built along a 16 km (10 mi) stretch of the Caspian Sea shoreline.[2][3] The Türkmenbaşy city has two modern hotels - Türkmenbashi Hotel and Charlak Hotel and old soviet Hazar Hotel.

In recent years, the city made large-scale reconstruction historic district, entrance roads, vital infrastructure.[4] A new Turkish Park and the cascade of fountains.[5] By the end of 2012 Magtymguly Avenue had been completely renovated, the new route merged with the city's waterfront Bahry Hazar, providing the west motorway junction Balykçy double out of the city along the dike, paved across the Soymonov bay speed motorway Turkmenbashi Airport—Awaza.[6] In 2014, the Oilworkers Palace of Culture, which was built in 1951, was renovated.[7]

The city housed the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan, part of the Government of Turkmenistan.[8]

Türkmenbaşy has a cold desert climate (BWk, according to the Köppen climate classification), with hot summers and chilly winters. The average temperatures are 3 °C in January and 28 °C in July. The average annual precipitation is 125 mm (5 in).

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel is a gift of the Astrakhan diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.[13] In 1895 it was moved to Krasnovodsk from a flooded peninsula Uzun Ada by Russian soldiers.[14]

The church was built in 1903. Currently it does not function and needs a major renovation.[15]

Turkmenbashi Airport photographed from the runway

Initially Turkmenbashi Airport in 1940 was located at the bottom of the plateau, near Krasnovodsk hospital. During World War II he was transferred to the top plateaus and the airfield was co-location with the Soviet Air Force. As an independent unit exists since 1959, after the creation of the 225th separate united air-squadron. In 2010 Turkmenbashi airport was reconstructed and gained international status. It has two runways.[19] Turkmenistan Airlines provides direct flights from Turkmenbashi Airport to Ashgabat, Daşoguz, Mary, Istanbul and Türkmenabat. To the airport from the city can be reached by car or bus. Time to town by car takes 10–15 minutes.

Two consulates general are found in Türkmenbaşy.

• Consulate of Russia
• Consulate of Kazakhstan[20]

• Jūrmala, Latvia[21]