Balkanabat

Balkan Province, Turkmenistan

---

Balkanabat serves as the capital of Balkan Province in western Turkmenistan, nestled at the southern foothills of the Great Balkhan Ridge near the Caspian Sea.

Formerly known as Nebitdag or "Oil Mountain," it emerged in the 1930s around major oil discoveries along the Transcaspian Railway, evolving into the country's key hub for the oil and gas industry with a population exceeding 100,000.

The modern city features a grid layout with Soviet-era blocks, green spaces to counter the desert climate, and landmarks like the Regional History Museum showcasing local ethnography, archaeology, and carpets, plus monuments honoring oil pioneers and grand structures such as the Wedding Palace. It acts as a gateway to nearby natural wonders, archaeological sites like ancient Dekhistan, and Caspian beaches, blending industrial significance with Turkmen cultural heritage.