Overview

Kushka (Gushgy)

Turkmenistan

About two hundred historical and architectural monuments are concentrated around famous Kushka. Among them are: Abiverd - one of north Khorasan cities, which was repeatedly mentioned in chronicles of Arab invasion period, the only country zikkurat – Altyn-Depe fortress (The Golden Hill III-II millennium B.C.) which is famous for its artistic monuments, Gara-Depe ancient settlement (III millennium B.C.) and also Namazga-Depe archaeological section (III-II millennium B.C.) and Badkhyz preserve related to the present and are also interesting.

Badkhyz preserve was created in 1941 y. for Asiatic wild donkey study and retention of natural pistachio grove – the largest in Central Asia. Now it is a large scientific center, to which the scientists from many countries of the world arrive to work. The Museum of Nature of Badkhyz state preserve is also interesting. Here entire flora and fauna of local area is presented. According to botanists calculations the Badkhyz flora includes about 2 thousand species, many of which are endemic. Kushka tulip, Leman tulip, Suvorov onion, badkhyz pistachio which are widely represented here grow nowhere else in the world. This unique territory in the south of Turkmenistan was inhabited from the earliest times. The Paleolithic sites of ancient men, who lived here about 60 thousand years ago, are spread along entire Badkhyz.