Turkmenabat
Turkmenabat is the third largest city of Turkmenistan and the centre of Lebap region. It’s situated on the left bank of the Amu Darya River. The past of the city has not yet been researched profoundly, but it’s known that it was born at the beginning of the one thousand BC, thanks to the Great Silk Road which pioneered from China through Central Asia to the Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. The town Amul was one of the most important points for the Silk Road. Those who see the Amu Darya River for the first time are surprised at its muddy yellow-green colour owing to its strong stream and a lot of particles of mud containing various nutrient substances forming the fertile soil.
Repetek Nature Reserve. It is only one hour journey (70km) from Turkmenabat to get to the famous Repetek sand-desert reservation formed in 1912. It is located to the south-west of Turkmenabat. Repetek Natural Reserve is remarkable for its exhaustive information about the ancient nature of the Karakum desert and some climatic conditions. There are large sand-hills, migrating sands and takyrs attracting attention of scientists in Repetek. In the wild flora of Repetek such species as saxaul (white & black), kandym, sand acacia and cherkez dominate. The animal life of Repetek is also rich and diverse. There are almost 1.5 thousand species of invertebrates-beetles, butterflies, spiders and other small creatures.
Koyten Dag Mountains. Koyten Dag Nature Reserve was created to protect the largest remaining Ibex populations in Central Asia. These long-horned mountains goats and a significant number of Urials ((Ovis ammon vignei) an endangered mountain sheep species) inhabit the steep canyons and flower covered valleys of the soft ridge of the Koyten Dag Mountains leading up to Turkmenistan’s tallest peak, Ayrybaba (3.137m). Koyten Dag is also well-known for its dinosaur plateau with 438 well preserved fossil dinosaur footprints, as well as for its caves considered the most beautiful and interesting caves of the former Soviet Union. The mountain can be discovered on numerous climbing trips along the entire ridge.
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