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Balkan velayat is situated in the western part of the peninsula
located to the east of the Caspian sea coast between the gulf of
Karabogaz-gol and Turkmenbashi city. It is known for succession
of flat sandy hills and saline hollows. The southwest of Balkan
velayat lies in a dry subtropical zone that is good for such valuable
fruit trees as fig, pomegranate, olive, pistachio, and other trees.
The area of the region totals 139 000 square km and its population's
about 400 thousand inhabitants. The capital town is Balkanabad and
other industrial centers are Turkmenbashi, Khazar and Serdar.
In the field of industrial development the priority is given to
the fuel and power complex. The great importance is paid to chemical
and food branches. Recently the major gas mains as Turkmenistan
- Iran and Bereket - Serdar have been put into operation as well
as quite a number of industrial enterprises, i.e. porcelain plant
and a flour mill in Balkanabad, a spinal rehabilitation sanatorium
in Mollagara, Large-scale restoration works have been carried out
at oil and gas deposits of Burun and Korpedzhe.
This region has good prospects in the field of tourism for its possesses
not only ancient architectural monuments but also an excellent seaside
rest area. The Caspian coast is famous for its remarkable sands,
clear water, abundant sea flora and fauna, allowing to take maximum
delight in the underwater sports. The most popular seaside places
are Avaza (suburb of Turkmenbashi) and Khazar that have quite a
number of coastal holiday centers such as comfortable five-star
hotel "Serdar", rest home "Brigantina" and "Briz"
in Avaza and "Khazar" in Khazar.
The tourist itineraries about Balkan normally include a rest at
the Caspian coastline and the trips to historic monuments that are
so numerous in this ancient lands, as well as a visit to a wonderful,
fantastically beautiful subtropical area of Turkmenistan, that is
the valley of Sambar situated in Garrygalin district.
Tourists will make acquaintance with the life and works of Makhtumkuli
Fragi, the outstanding Turkmen poet and classic of the oriental
literature, in this native village Gerkez "Yuwvan-kala".
As unforgettable will also be a trip to the mysterious, silent and
ghostly-looking in solar mirage ruins of the ancient land of Dekhistan.
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