Editing Geography of Turkmenistan

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
[[Image:Dust Storm Over Turkmenistan.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Dust storm over Turkmenistan]]

'''[[Turkmenistan]]''' is a [[landlocked]] country in [[Central Asia]], bordering the [[Caspian Sea]] to the west, [[Iran]] and [[Afghanistan]] to the south, [[Uzbekistan]] to the north-east, and [[Kazakhstan]] to the north-west. It is the southernmost republic of the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS), the loose federation created at the end of 1991 by most of the [[post-Soviet states]].<ref name=":0">{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan: country studies|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/97005110/|last=Clark|first=Larry|date=1997|others=|editor-last=Curtis|editor-first=Glenn E.|edition=1st|pages=307–311|isbn=0-8444-0938-3|oclc=36364151|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|last2=Thurman|first2=Michael|last3=Tyson|first3=David|entry=Turkmenistan: Physical Environment}}</ref>

The geographic coordinates are between 35°08' and 42°48' north latitude, 52°27' and 66°41' east longitude. Its longest border is with the Caspian Sea ({{convert|1786|km|abbr=on}}).<ref name=":0" /> The other borders are with Iran (to the south, {{convert|992|km|abbr=on}}), Afghanistan (to the south, {{convert|744|km|abbr=on}}), Uzbekistan (to the north and east, {{convert|1621|km|abbr=on}}) and Kazakhstan (to the north, {{convert|379|km|abbr=on}}).<ref name=":0" /> Turkmenistan is slightly larger than [[Cameroon]] in territory, occupying {{Convert|491120|sqkm}}.<ref name=":0" /> By area, Turkmenistan ranks fourth among the former Soviet republics, after [[Russia]], Kazakhstan, and [[Ukraine]].<ref name=":0" /> The country's greatest extent from west to east is {{convert|1100|km|abbr=on}}, and its greatest north-to-south distance is {{convert|650|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":0" />

{{Location map+ |Turkmenistan |width=400 |float=right |caption=Map of Turkmenistan |places=
{{Location map~ |Turkmenistan |lat=37.93333|long=58.36667 |label=[[Ashgabat]] }}
{{Location map~ |Turkmenistan |lat=39.51667|long=54.36667 |label=[[Balkanabat]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Turkmenistan |lat=41.83333|long=59.96667 |label=[[Daşoguz]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Turkmenistan |lat=39.08333|long=63.56667 |label=[[Türkmenabat]]|position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Turkmenistan |lat=37.60000|long=61.83333 |label=[[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]] }}
{{Location map~ |Turkmenistan |lat=40.01315|long=52.96989 |label=[[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]] }}
}}
[[File:Turkmenistan-2019-US-Dept-State-map.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Political map of Turkmenistan (2019)<br>(U.S. Department of State)]]

{{coord|40|00|N|60|00|E|type:country|display=title}}

==Physical features==
{{see also|List of mountains of Turkmenistan}}
[[Image:Turkmenistan 1994 CIA map.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Relief map of Turkmenistan (1994)]]
[[Image:Turkmenistan Topography.png|thumb|400px|Topography of Turkmenistan]]

Terrain of Turkmenistan consists of a flat-to-rolling sandy [[desert]], the [[Karakum Desert|Karakum]], with its [[dune]]s slowly rising to the south; by the time they reach the border with [[Iran]], they become the mountains known as the [[Kopet Dag]]. The [[Caspian Sea]] washes the western shores of this mostly [[arid]] country.

Turkmenistan's average elevation is {{Convert|100-220|m|sp=us}} above sea level, with its highest point being [[Mount Ayrybaba|Mount Aýrybaba]] ({{Convert|3,139|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}) in the [[Köýtendag Range]] of the [[Pamir-Alay]] chain in the south-east,<ref name="peaklist">[http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/StansP1500m.html "The Central Asian Republics: Ultra-Prominence Page"]. Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2014-05-26.</ref> and its lowest point being the Akjagaýa Depression in [[Sarygamysh Lake]], close to {{Convert|100|m|sp=us}} below sea level (the actual water level in Sarygamysh Lake fluctuates widely from –110 m at its shallowest to –60 m ({{Convert|-110 to -60|m|abbr=on|disp=out}}).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web| url = http://content.mail.ru/arch/14197/852932.html| title = Natural conditions in Turkmenistan}}</ref> [[Gora Arlan|Mount Arlan]] rises sharply above sea level in the [[Uly Balkan|Great Balkan Range]] in western Turkmenistan ([[Balkan Province]]), and has a topographical prominence only slightly shorter than its height.<ref name="peaklist" /> Nearly 80% of the republic lies within the [[Turan Depression]], which slopes from south to north and from east to west.<ref name=":0" />

Turkmenistan's mountains include {{Convert|600|km|abbr=on|sp=us|adj=on}} of the northern reaches of the Kopet Dag Range, which it shares with Iran.<ref name=":0" /> The Kopet Dag Range is a region characterized by foothills, dry and sandy slopes, mountain plateaus, and steep ravines; [[Mount Şahşah]] ({{Convert|2,912|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}), also known as [[Mount Rizeh]], southwest of [[Ashgabat]], is the highest elevation of the Kopet Dag Range in Turkmenistan.<ref name=":0" /> The Kopet Dag is undergoing tectonic transformation, meaning that the region is threatened by [[earthquake]]s such as the one that destroyed Ashgabat in 1948.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan|Krasnovodsk]] and [[Ustyurt|Üstýurt]] plateaus are the prominent topographical features of northwestern Turkmenistan.<ref name=":0" />

A dominant feature of the republic's landscape is the Garagum Desert (also known as [[Karakum Desert|Karakum]]), which occupies about {{Convert|350,000|km2|sp=us}}.<ref name=":0" /> Shifting winds create desert mountains that range from {{Convert|2 to 20|m|ft|sp=us|round=5|spell=in}} in height and may be several kilometers in length.<ref name=":0" /> Chains of such structures are common, as are steep elevations and smooth, concrete-like clay deposits formed by the rapid evaporation of flood waters in the same area for a number of years.<ref name=":0" /> Large marshy salt flats, formed by capillary action in the soil, exist in many depressions, including the [[Garaşor]], which occupies {{Convert|1,500|km2|sp=us}} in the northwest.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Sandykly Desert]] west of the [[Amu Darya]] river is the southernmost extremity of the [[Kyzyl Kum|Qizilqum]] Desert, most of which lies in Uzbekistan to the northeast.<ref name=":0" />

==Climate==
{{See also|Turkmenistan#Climate|l1=Climate}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_TKM_1991–2020.svg|thumb|400px|Turkmenistan map of Köppen climate classification zones]]
[[File:Water_Stress,_Top_Countries_(2020).svg|thumb|Turkmenistan is the tenth most water-stressed country in the world.]]
Turkmenistan has a [[cold desert climate]] that is severely [[continental climate|continental]].<ref name=":0" /> Summers are long (from May through September), hot, and dry, while winters generally are mild and dry, although occasionally cold and damp in the north.<ref name=":0" /> Most precipitation falls between January and May; precipitation is slight throughout the country, with annual averages ranging from {{convert|300|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in the [[Kopet Dag]] to {{convert|80|mm|in|2|sp=us}} in the northwest.<ref name=":0" /> The capital, [[Ashgabat]], close to the Iranian border in south-central Turkmenistan, averages {{convert|225|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rainfall annually.<ref name=":0" /> Average annual temperatures range from {{convert|17.5|°C}} in Ashgabat to {{convert|12.8|°C}} in [[Daşoguz]], on the Uzbek border in north-central Turkmenistan.<ref name=":0" /> The almost constant winds are northerly, northeasterly, or westerly.<ref name=":0" />

On 28 July 1983, [[Repetek Biosphere State Reserve]], south of [[Türkmenabat]], recorded a temperature of {{convert|50.1|C|F|abbr=on}}, which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Turkmenistan.<ref name=TurmenistanCCRepetek>{{cite web |url=http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/tkmnc3.pdf |title=Third National Communication of Turkmenistan Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |publisher=Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan |pages=12–13 |year=2015 |access-date=15 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025032759/http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/tkmnc3.pdf |archive-date=25 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=TurkmenistanUNCCDRepetek>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118145252/http://www.unccd-prais.com/Uploads/GetReportPdf/300703d5-c6bc-416b-8aeb-a0fa014a4a8f |archive-date=18 November 2016 |url=http://www.unccd-prais.com/Uploads/GetReportPdf/300703d5-c6bc-416b-8aeb-a0fa014a4a8f |title=Report on implementation of the UNCCD in Turkmenistan |publisher=Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan |year=2000 |page=7 |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref>

===Examples===
{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|location = [[Ashgabat]] (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 27.8
|Feb record high C = 32.6
|Mar record high C = 38.6
|Apr record high C = 39.6
|May record high C = 45.6
|Jun record high C = 47.2
|Jul record high C = 46.8
|Aug record high C = 45.7
|Sep record high C = 45.4
|Oct record high C = 40.1
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 33.1
|Jan high C = 9.0
|Feb high C = 11.1
|Mar high C = 17.0
|Apr high C = 23.9
|May high C = 30.5
|Jun high C = 36.2
|Jul high C = 38.4
|Aug high C = 37.2
|Sep high C = 31.8
|Oct high C = 24.4
|Nov high C = 15.7
|Dec high C = 9.8
|Jan mean C = 3.9
|Feb mean C = 5.7
|Mar mean C = 11.1
|Apr mean C = 17.6
|May mean C = 24.1
|Jun mean C = 29.6
|Jul mean C = 31.7
|Aug mean C = 30.0
|Sep mean C = 24.3
|Oct mean C = 17.1
|Nov mean C = 9.7
|Dec mean C = 5.0
|Jan low C = -0.1
|Feb low C = 1.3
|Mar low C = 6.0
|Apr low C = 11.8
|May low C = 17.5
|Jun low C = 22.3
|Jul low C = 24.5
|Aug low C = 22.4
|Sep low C = 17.1
|Oct low C = 10.8
|Nov low C = 5.0
|Dec low C = 1.1
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -24.1
|Feb record low C = −20.8
|Mar record low C = −13.3
|Apr record low C = -0.8
|May record low C = 1.3
|Jun record low C = 9.2
|Jul record low C = 13.8
|Aug record low C = 9.5
|Sep record low C = 2.0
|Oct record low C = -5.0
|Nov record low C = −13.1
|Dec record low C = −18.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 21
|Feb precipitation mm = 33
|Mar precipitation mm = 42
|Apr precipitation mm = 33
|May precipitation mm = 23
|Jun precipitation mm = 8
|Jul precipitation mm = 3
|Aug precipitation mm = 2
|Sep precipitation mm = 3
|Oct precipitation mm = 12
|Nov precipitation mm = 23
|Dec precipitation mm = 18
|Jan humidity = 78
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 66
|Apr humidity = 58
|May humidity = 47
|Jun humidity = 35
|Jul humidity = 34
|Aug humidity = 34
|Sep humidity = 40
|Oct humidity = 54
|Nov humidity = 68
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 55
|Jan rain days = 9
|Feb rain days = 9
|Mar rain days = 13
|Apr rain days = 12
|May rain days = 10
|Jun rain days = 5
|Jul rain days = 3
|Aug rain days = 2
|Sep rain days = 3
|Oct rain days = 6
|Nov rain days = 8
|Dec rain days = 10
|year rain days = 90
|Jan snow days = 5
|Feb snow days = 5
|Mar snow days = 1
|Apr snow days = 0.03
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 1
|Dec snow days = 3
|year snow days = 15
|Jan sun = 112.7
|Feb sun = 119.4
|Mar sun = 146.2
|Apr sun = 194.4
|May sun = 275.1
|Jun sun = 335.5
|Jul sun = 353.8
|Aug sun = 348.1
|Sep sun = 289.2
|Oct sun = 216.8
|Nov sun = 157.2
|Dec sun = 104.4
|year sun = 2652.8
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name=Ashgabatpogoda>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/38880.htm
|script-title=ru:Погода и Климат 
| publisher = Pogodaiklimat.ru
| language = ru
| access-date = 22 November 2021}}</ref> 
|source 2 = NOAA (Sunshine hours 1961–1990)<ref name=NOAAAshgabat >{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/TX/38880.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| title = Ashgabat Climate Normals 1961–1990
| access-date = 22 November 2021}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Turkmenbashi]] (1981–2010)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 20.7
|Feb record high C = 23.3
|Mar record high C = 29.0
|Apr record high C = 36.0
|May record high C = 40.7
|Jun record high C = 43.3
|Jul record high C = 44.7
|Aug record high C = 44.5
|Sep record high C = 43.5
|Oct record high C = 33.4
|Nov record high C = 28.1
|Dec record high C = 24.6
|year record high C = 44.7
|Jan high C = 7.5
|Feb high C = 8.7
|Mar high C = 13.1
|Apr high C = 19.9
|May high C = 25.8
|Jun high C = 31.6
|Jul high C = 34.6
|Aug high C = 34.5
|Sep high C = 29.3
|Oct high C = 21.5
|Nov high C = 14.2
|Dec high C = 9.1
|year high C = 20.8
|Jan mean C = 3.3
|Feb mean C = 3.9
|Mar mean C = 7.7
|Apr mean C = 13.7
|May mean C = 19.5
|Jun mean C = 25.1
|Jul mean C = 28.2
|Aug mean C = 28.0
|Sep mean C = 22.7
|Oct mean C = 15.4
|Nov mean C = 9.3
|Dec mean C = 4.9
|year mean C = 15.1
|Jan low C = -0.3
|Feb low C = -0.2
|Mar low C = 3.2
|Apr low C = 8.5
|May low C = 13.6
|Jun low C = 18.9
|Jul low C = 22.2
|Aug low C = 22.0
|Sep low C = 16.7
|Oct low C = 10.0
|Nov low C = 5.0
|Dec low C = 1.2
|year low C = 10.1
|Jan record low C = -21.5
|Feb record low C = -21.9
|Mar record low C = -12.6
|Apr record low C = -2.6
|May record low C = 0.9
|Jun record low C = 6.6
|Jul record low C = 14.1
|Aug record low C = 10.2
|Sep record low C = 3.3
|Oct record low C = -3.1
|Nov record low C = -12.1
|Dec record low C = -16.3
|year record low C = -21.9
|Jan precipitation mm = 12
|Feb precipitation mm = 13
|Mar precipitation mm = 17
|Apr precipitation mm = 16
|May precipitation mm = 9
|Jun precipitation mm = 3
|Jul precipitation mm = 2
|Aug precipitation mm = 5
|Sep precipitation mm = 5
|Oct precipitation mm = 11
|Nov precipitation mm = 19
|Dec precipitation mm = 14
|year precipitation mm = 126
|Jan humidity = 76
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 68
|Apr humidity = 63
|May humidity = 56
|Jun humidity = 50
|Jul humidity = 49
|Aug humidity = 44
|Sep humidity = 46
|Oct humidity = 58
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 75
|year humidity = 61
| Jan rain days = 8
| Feb rain days = 7
| Mar rain days = 8
| Apr rain days = 8
| May rain days = 6
| Jun rain days = 3
| Jul rain days = 2
| Aug rain days = 3
| Sep rain days = 3
| Oct rain days = 6
| Nov rain days = 8
| Dec rain days = 8
|year rain days = 70
|Jan snow days = 4
|Feb snow days = 4
|Mar snow days = 1
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 2
|year snow days = 11
|Jan sun = 136.6
|Feb sun = 139.0
|Mar sun = 172.6
|Apr sun = 227.0
|May sun = 303.2
|Jun sun = 347.0
|Jul sun = 344.0
|Aug sun = 330.2
|Sep sun = 294.1
|Oct sun = 228.8
|Nov sun = 161.9
|Dec sun = 124.0
|year sun = 2808.4
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net <ref name= pogodaturkmenbashi>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161206182208/http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/38507.htm
| archive-date = December 6, 2016
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/38507.htm
| title = Weather and Climate- The Climate of Turkmenbashi
| publisher = Weather and Climate (Погода и климат)
| language = ru
| access-date = December 6, 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)<ref name= TurkembashiNOAA>{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/TX/38507.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| title = Turkmenbashy Climate Normals 1961–1990
| access-date = April 1, 2015}}</ref>
|date=November 2012
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = [[Balkanabat]]
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan high C = 7.9
|Feb high C = 10.0
|Mar high C = 15.8
|Apr high C = 23.7
|May high C = 30.3
|Jun high C = 35.4
|Jul high C = 38.1
|Aug high C = 37.2
|Sep high C = 31.9
|Oct high C = 23.2
|Nov high C = 16.4
|Dec high C = 9.9
|year high C = 23.3
|Jan mean C = 3.2
|Feb mean C = 4.6
|Mar mean C = 10.0
|Apr mean C = 17.3
|May mean C = 23.6
|Jun mean C = 28.8
|Jul mean C = 31.5
|Aug mean C = 31.1
|Sep mean C = 25.9
|Oct mean C = 17.5
|Nov mean C = 11.1
|Dec mean C = 5.5
|year mean C = 17.5
|Jan low C = -0.6
|Feb low C = 0.4
|Mar low C = 5.4
|Apr low C = 11.9
|May low C = 17.8
|Jun low C = 22.5
|Jul low C = 25.7
|Aug low C = 25.5
|Sep low C = 19.7
|Oct low C = 12.2
|Nov low C = 6.8
|Dec low C = 1.9
|year low C = 12.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 11
|Feb precipitation mm = 14
|Mar precipitation mm = 21
|Apr precipitation mm = 19
|May precipitation mm = 17
|Jun precipitation mm = 5
|Jul precipitation mm = 8
|Aug precipitation mm = 2
|Sep precipitation mm = 4
|Oct precipitation mm = 12
|Nov precipitation mm = 14
|Dec precipitation mm = 16
|year precipitation mm = 143
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6
|Feb precipitation days = 5
|Mar precipitation days = 7
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 4
|Jun precipitation days = 2
|Jul precipitation days = 2
|Aug precipitation days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 2
|Oct precipitation days = 4
|Nov precipitation days = 5
|Dec precipitation days = 7
|year precipitation days = 51
|Jan humidity = 68
|Feb humidity = 63
|Mar humidity = 56
|Apr humidity = 50
|May humidity = 43
|Jun humidity = 38
|Jul humidity = 41
|Aug humidity = 34
|Sep humidity = 34
|Oct humidity = 46
|Nov humidity = 58
|Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 50
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAABalkanabat >
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/TX/38634.TXT
| title = Nebitdag (Balkanabat) Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200717100201/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/TX/38634.TXT
| archive-date = 2020-07-17
| url-status = dead
| access-date = 9 March 2017}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location= [[Türkmenabat]]
|metric first= yes
|single line= yes
|collapsed= Yes 
|Jan record high C = 24.0
|Feb record high C = 28.4
|Mar record high C = 33.9
|Apr record high C = 40.3
|May record high C = 42.2
|Jun record high C = 44.0
|Jul record high C = 46.2
|Aug record high C = 43.0
|Sep record high C = 40.4
|Oct record high C = 35.6
|Nov record high C = 31.3
|Dec record high C = 25.7
|Jan high C = 6.8
|Feb high C = 10.0
|Mar high C = 16.0
|Apr high C = 24.4
|May high C = 30.4
|Jun high C = 34.8
|Jul high C = 36.4
|Aug high C = 34.5
|Sep high C = 29.7
|Oct high C = 22.6
|Nov high C = 15.0
|Dec high C = 8.3
|Jan mean C = 1.0
|Feb mean C = 3.7
|Mar mean C = 9.2
|Apr mean C = 17.1
|May mean C = 23.3
|Jun mean C = 27.6
|Jul mean C = 29.3
|Aug mean C = 26.9
|Sep mean C = 21.2
|Oct mean C = 13.9
|Nov mean C = 7.6
|Dec mean C = 2.7
|Jan low C = -3.3
|Feb low C = -1.1
|Mar low C = 3.6
|Apr low C = 10.4
|May low C = 15.7
|Jun low C = 19.5
|Jul low C = 21.4
|Aug low C = 19.0
|Sep low C = 13.1
|Oct low C = 6.6
|Nov low C = 1.7
|Dec low C = -1.8
|Jan record low C = -23.8
|Feb record low C = -22.2
|Mar record low C = -16.3
|Apr record low C = -4.6
|May record low C = 0.8
|Jun record low C = 9.4
|Jul record low C = 11.2
|Aug record low C = 9.1
|Sep record low C = 2.8
|Oct record low C = -9.5
|Nov record low C = -19.8
|Dec record low C = -23.4
|Jan precipitation mm = 19
|Feb precipitation mm = 17.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 26.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 22.4
|May precipitation mm = 10.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 1.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 0.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 4.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 9.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 16.1
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 5.8
|Mar precipitation days = 5.6
|Apr precipitation days = 4.7
|May precipitation days = 2.0
|Jun precipitation days = 0.5
|Jul precipitation days = 0.2
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 0.2
|Oct precipitation days = 1.5
|Nov precipitation days = 5.2
|Dec precipitation days = 6.3
|Jan humidity = 76.9
|Feb humidity = 69.6
|Mar humidity = 59.4
|Apr humidity = 51.4
|May humidity = 43.1
|Jun humidity = 36.0
|Jul humidity = 37.4
|Aug humidity = 38.1
|Sep humidity = 43.3
|Oct humidity = 54.4
|Nov humidity = 69.3
|Dec humidity = 77.2
|Jan sun = 131.8
|Feb sun = 153.2
|Mar sun = 197.6
|Apr sun = 242.1
|May sun = 330.3
|Jun sun = 384.5
|Jul sun = 395.3
|Aug sun = 379.1
|Sep sun = 322.7
|Oct sun = 267.7
|Nov sun = 193.7
|Dec sun = 132.0
|source 1 = climatebase.ru<ref name="Turkmenabatclimatebase">{{cite web|title=Chardzhou, Turkmenistan|url=http://climatebase.ru/station/38687/?lang=en|publisher=Climatebase.ru|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (1961-1990)<ref name="TurkmenabatNOAA">{{cite web|title=Climate Normals for Charjew|url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/TX/38687.TXT|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717100155/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/TX/38687.TXT|archive-date=2020-07-17|url-status=dead|access-date=9 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=38687&ano=2021&mes=7&day=8&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |title=38687: Chardzhev (Turkmenistan) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 8 July 2021|website=ogimet.com |publisher=[[OGIMET]] |access-date= 8 July 2021|quote=}}</ref>
|date=February 2013
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|location = [[Erbent]] (1961–1990 normals)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan high C = 5.5
|Feb high C = 8.7
|Mar high C = 15.9
|Apr high C = 24.5
|May high C = 31.4
|Jun high C = 37.0
|Jul high C = 39.1
|Aug high C = 37.2
|Sep high C = 31.6
|Oct high C = 22.7
|Nov high C = 15.2
|Dec high C = 7.9
|year high C = 23.1
|Jan mean C = 0.1
|Feb mean C = 2.6
|Mar mean C = 9.2
|Apr mean C = 17.3
|May mean C = 24.1
|Jun mean C = 29.8
|Jul mean C = 32.4
|Aug mean C = 30.0
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 15.1
|Nov mean C = 8.5
|Dec mean C = 2.6
|year mean C = 16.3
|Jan low C = -3.9
|Feb low C = -2.0
|Mar low C = 4.0
|Apr low C = 11.2
|May low C = 16.9
|Jun low C = 22.0
|Jul low C = 24.6
|Aug low C = 21.8
|Sep low C = 15.8
|Oct low C = 8.3
|Nov low C = 3.1
|Dec low C = -1.3
|year low C = 10.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 13
|Feb precipitation mm = 11
|Mar precipitation mm = 22
|Apr precipitation mm = 22
|May precipitation mm = 13
|Jun precipitation mm = 4
|Jul precipitation mm = 2
|Aug precipitation mm = 1
|Sep precipitation mm = 2
|Oct precipitation mm = 6
|Nov precipitation mm = 10
|Dec precipitation mm = 13
|year precipitation mm = 119
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5
|Feb precipitation days = 4
|Mar precipitation days = 6
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 4
|Jun precipitation days = 1
|Jul precipitation days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 1
|Oct precipitation days = 3
|Nov precipitation days = 4
|Dec precipitation days = 6
|year precipitation days = 42
|Jan humidity = 73
|Feb humidity = 63
|Mar humidity = 54
|Apr humidity = 46
|May humidity = 33
|Jun humidity = 26
|Jul humidity = 26
|Aug humidity = 25
|Sep humidity = 30
|Oct humidity = 43
|Nov humidity = 59
|Dec humidity = 74
|year humidity = 46
|Jan sun = 137.4
|Feb sun = 155.1
|Mar sun = 198.9
|Apr sun = 228.9
|May sun = 306.4
|Jun sun = 363.3
|Jul sun = 376.3
|Aug sun = 367.0
|Sep sun = 321.9
|Oct sun = 249.0
|Nov sun = 187.6
|Dec sun = 131.0
|year sun = 3022.8
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = YerbentNOAA >
{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/TX/38656.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| title = Yerbent (Erbent) Climate Normals 1961–1990
| access-date = 9 March 2017}}</ref>
}}

===Hydrological conditions===
Almost 80% of the territory of Turkmenistan lacks a constant source of surface water flow.<ref name=":0" /> Its main rivers are located only in the southern and eastern peripheries; a few smaller rivers on the northern slopes of the Kopetdag are diverted entirely to irrigation.<ref name=":0" /> The most important river is the Amu Darya, which has a total length of {{Convert|2,540|km|abbr=on|sp=us}} from its farthest tributary, making it the longest river in Central Asia.<ref name=":0" /> The Amu Darya flows across northeastern Turkmenistan, thence eastward to form the southern borders of Uzbekistan and [[Tajikistan]].<ref name=":0" /> Damming and irrigation uses of the Amu Darya have had severe environmental effects on the [[Aral Sea]], into which the river flows.<ref name=":0" /> The river's average annual flow is {{Convert|1,940|m3/s|sp=us}}.<ref name=":0" /> Other major rivers are the [[Hari River, Afghanistan|Tejen]] ({{Convert|1,124|km|abbr=on|sp=us|disp=or}}); the [[Murgab River (Afghanistan)|Murgab]] ({{Convert|852|km|abbr=on|sp=us|disp=or}}); and the [[Atrek River|Atrek]] ({{Convert|660|km|abbr=on|sp=us|disp=or|sigfig=3}}).<ref name=":0" />

==Environmental issues==
{{main|Environmental issues in Turkmenistan}}

===Background===
Since the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], [[environmental regulation]] is largely unchanged in Turkmenistan.<ref name=":0" /> The new government created the Ministry of Natural Resources Use and Environmental Protection in July&nbsp;1992, with departments responsible for environmental protection, protection of flora and fauna, [[forestry]], [[hydrometeorology]], and administrative planning.<ref name=":0" /> Like other CIS republics, Turkmenistan has established an Environmental Fund based on revenues collected from environmental fines, but the fines generally are too low to accumulate significant revenue.<ref name=":0" /> Thanks to the former Soviet system of game preserves and the efforts of the Society for Nature Conservation and the Academy of Sciences, flora and fauna receive some protection in the republic; however, "hard-currency hunts" by wealthy Western and Arab foreigners already are depleting animals on preserves.<ref name=":0" />

===Current environmental issues===
Contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-saturation of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the [[Amu Darya]] into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the [[Aral Sea]]; [[desertification]]

===International environmental agreements===
;Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-[[Kyoto Protocol]], Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
;Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

===Desertification===
According to estimates, as a result of desertification processes and pollution, biological productivity of the ecological systems in Turkmenistan has declined by 30% to 50% in recent decades.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Karakum Desert|Karakum]] and [[Kyzyl Kum]] deserts are expanding at a rate surpassed on a planetary scale only by the desertification process in the [[Sahara]] and [[Sahel]] regions of Africa.<ref name=":0" /> Between 8,000 and 10,000&nbsp;km{{sup|2}} of new desert now appears each year in Central Asia.<ref name=":0" />

The most irreparable type of desertification is the [[Soil salinity|salinization]] process that forms marshy salt flats.<ref name=":0" /> A major factor that contributes to these conditions is inefficient use of water because of weak regulation and failure to charge for water that is used.<ref name=":0" /> Efficiency in application of water to the fields is low, but the main problem is leakage in main and secondary canals, especially Turkmenistan's main canal, the [[Qaraqum Canal|Karakum Canal]].<ref name=":0" /> Nearly half of the canal's water seeps out into lakes and salt swamps along its path.<ref name=":0" /> Excessive irrigation brings salts to the surface, forming salt marshes that dry into unusable clay flats.<ref name=":0" /> In 1989 Turkmenistan's Institute for Desert Studies claimed that the area of such flats had reached {{Convert|10,000|km2|abbr=on|sp=us}}.<ref name=":0" />

The type of desertification caused by year-round pasturing of cattle has been termed the most devastating in Central Asia, with the gravest situations in Turkmenistan and the [[Kazakhstan|Kazakh steppe]] along the eastern and northern coasts of the [[Caspian Sea]].<ref name=":0" /> Wind erosion and desertification also are severe in settled areas along the [[Qaraqum Canal|Garagum Canal]]; planted windbreaks have died because of soil water-saturation and / or salinization.<ref name=":0" /> Other factors promoting desertification are the inadequacy of the collector-drainage system built in the 1950s and inappropriate application of chemicals.<ref name=":0" />

===The Aral Sea===
Turkmenistan both contributes to and suffers from the consequences of the desiccation of the [[Aral Sea]].<ref name=":0" /> Because of excessive irrigation, Turkmen agriculture contributes to the steady drawdown of sea levels.<ref name=":0" /> In turn, the Aral Sea's [[desiccation]], which had shrunk that body of water by an estimated {{Convert|59,000|km2|sp=us}} by 1994, profoundly affects economic productivity and the health of the population of the republic.<ref name=":0" /> Besides the cost of ameliorating damaged areas and the loss of at least part of the initial investment in them, salinization and chemicalization of land have reduced agricultural productivity in Central Asia by an estimated 20–25%.<ref name=":0" /> Poor drinking water is the main health risk posed by such [[environmental degradation]].<ref name=":0" /> In [[Dashhowuz Province]], which has suffered the greatest ecological damage from the Aral Sea's desiccation, bacteria levels in drinking water exceeded ten times the sanitary level; 70% of the population has experienced illnesses, many with [[hepatitis]], and [[infant mortality]] is high.<ref name=":0" /> Experts have warned that inhabitants will have to evacuate the province by the end of the century unless a comprehensive cleanup program is undertaken.<ref name=":0" /> Turkmenistan has announced plans to clean up some of the Aral Sea fallout with financial support from the [[World Bank]].<ref name=":0" />

===Chemical pollution===
The most productive [[cotton]] lands in Turkmenistan (the middle and lower Amu Darya and the Murgap oasis) receive as much as 250&nbsp;kilograms of fertilizer per hectare ({{Convert|250|kg/ha|abbr=on|disp=out}}), compared with the average application of {{Convert|30|kg/ha|sp=us|spell=in}}.<ref name=":0" /> Furthermore, most fertilizers are so poorly applied that experts have estimated that only 15–40% of the chemicals can be absorbed by cotton plants, while the remainder washes into the soil, and subsequently into the groundwater.<ref name=":0" /> Cotton also uses far more pesticides and defoliants than other crops, and application of these chemicals often is mishandled by farmers.<ref name=":0" /> For example, local herdsmen, unaware of the danger of DDT, have reportedly mixed the pesticide with water and applied it to their faces to keep away mosquitoes.<ref name=":0" /> In the late 1980s, a drive began in Central Asia to reduce [[agrochemical]] usage.<ref name=":0" /> In Turkmenistan the campaign reduced fertilizer use 30% between 1988 and 1989.<ref name=":0" /> In the early 1990s, the use of some pesticides and defoliants declined drastically because of the country's shortage of hard currency.<ref name=":0" />

===Methane leaks===
The value of [[methane leakage]] in 2019/20, a form of [[greenhouse gas emission]], has been estimated as 6 billion [[USD]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-04|title=Satellites map huge methane plumes from oil and gas|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60203683|access-date=2022-02-04}}</ref>

==Area and boundaries==
;Area:
:*total: {{Convert|488,100|km2|abbr=on}}
:**''country rank in the world:'' 52nd
:*land: {{Convert|469,130|km2|abbr=on}}
:*water: {{Convert|18,170|km2|abbr=on}}

;Area — comparative:
:* slightly larger than [[Cameroon]]
:* Australia comparative: slightly less than half the size of [[South Australia]]
:* Canada comparative: slightly larger than the [[Yukon]]
:* United Kingdom comparative: approximately twice the size of the United Kingdom
:* United States comparative: slightly less than twice the size of [[Wyoming]]
:* [[European Union|EU]] comparative: slightly smaller than [[Spain]]

;Land boundaries:
:*total: {{Convert|3,736|km|abbr=on}}
:**border countries: [[Afghanistan]] {{Convert|744|km|abbr=on}}, [[Iran]] {{Convert|992|km|abbr=on}}, [[Kazakhstan]] {{Convert|379|km|abbr=on}}, [[Uzbekistan]] {{Convert|1,621|km|abbr=on}}

;Coastline:
:*0&nbsp;km
:**Note: Turkmenistan borders the [[Caspian Sea]]. Its coastline with the Caspian Sea is {{Convert|1,768|km|abbr=on}}.

;Maritime claims: 
: Border disputes with [[Azerbaijan]], [[Kazakhstan]], and [[Iran]]

==Resources==
'''Natural resources:''' [[petroleum]], [[natural gas]], [[sulfur]], [[salt]]

'''Land use:'''
<br>''arable land:'' 3.89%
<br>''permanent crops:'' 0.12%
<br>''other:'' 95.98% (2011)

'''Irrigated land:''' {{Convert|19,910|km2|abbr=on}} (2006)

'''Total renewable water resources:''' {{Convert|24.77|km2|abbr=on}} (2011)

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{CIA World Factbook}}

{{Turkmenistan topics}}
{{Geography of Asia}}
{{Asia topic|Climate of}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of Turkmenistan| ]]