Ahal Region


Ahal Region is one of the regions of Turkmenistan. It is in the south-center of the country, bordering Iran and Afghanistan along the Kopet Dag Range. Its area is and population 939,700.

Overview

In 2000, Ahal Region accounted for 14% of Turkmenistan's population, 11% of the total number of employed, 23% of agricultural production, and 31% of the country's total industrial production.
Ahal's agriculture is irrigated by the Karakum Canal, which stretches all the way across the province from east to west, tracking Turkmenistan's southern border. Another water source is Tejen River, which flows north from Afghanistan in the south-east corner of the province, passing through two large reservoirs south of the city of Tejen.
Ahal is known for the Geok Tepe battle of 1881, today the site of an imposing new mosque, and for the Baherden underground warm lake, both west of Ashgabat.
The capital of Ahal Province is Änew, a town on the south-eastern outskirts of Ashgabat. One other notable town is Tejen in the south-east near the border with Mary Province. Turkmenistan's largest city, Ashgabat, is surrounded by Ahal Province, but it has the status of a special capital district outside the provincial jurisdiction.

Districts

Effective January 5, 2018, Ahal Province is subdivided into 7 districts :
  1. Ak Bugdaý
  2. Babadaýhan
  3. Bäherden
  4. Gökdepe
  5. Kaka
  6. Sarahs
  7. Tejen
As of January 1, 2017, the province included 8 cities, 9 towns, 89 rural or village councils, and 235 villages. However, as of January 5, 2018, the master list of provinces, districts, and municipalities listed only 7 cities.
As of May 2013 Ruhabat District and the city of Abadan, until then in Ahal Province, were incorporated into the city of Ashgabat. In January 2018, Babadaýhan District of Ahal Province was established, and the Kaka, Tejen, Sarahs Provinces were reaffirmed. In the same decree, Baharly's former name, Bäherden, was restored, and the Altyn Asyr District was abolished.