Daşoguz


Daşoguz, formerly known as Tashauz and Dashkhovuz, is a city in northern Turkmenistan and the capital of Daşoguz Province. The Uzbekistan border is about 10 km away.

Geography

It is located at latitude 41.833° north, longitude 59.9667° east, at an average of 88 meters above sea level. It is about from Nukus, Uzbekistan, and from Ashgabat. In nearby Lake Sarykamysh, you can find 65 different varieties of fish.

Climate

Daşoguz has a cold desert climate, with long and hot summers. Winters are relatively short, but quite cold. The precipitation is scarce throughout the year, with an average of 100 mm.

Demographics

Daşoguz's population of 166,500 is predominantly Turkmen and Uzbek, with smaller numbers of Russians, Koreans, Karakalpaks, and Tatars present. A large number of those forcefully displaced by ex-President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov have been resettled in lands adjoining the town.

History

Early in its history, it was a popular stop on the Silk Road because it had a spring, hence its name. Founded as a fort called Tashauz in the early 19th century by the Russians, the name was changed to the Turkmen form Dashkhovuz in 1992 after independence, and to Daşoguz by order of President Niyazov in 1999; the modern city is a Soviet-designed city with many monuments and museums acting as a local administrative and cultural center and rail junction.

Transportation

provides a connection with Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenabat, Balkanabat, Turkmenbashy with Turkmenistan Airlines.

Miscellaneous

Daşoguz is the main portal of tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Konya-Urgench. Some of the main agricultural products of the area are cotton and jute, which can be cultivated due to the city's proximity to the Amu Darya river. It is also the location of the football club Turan Dasoguz.
On September 5, 1998, an H5 meteorite weighing approximately 7 kilograms fell in Daşoguz.

Notable people

The town has a 2 stadiums: Sport Toplumy Stadium and Garaşsyzlyk Stadium.