Turkmenbashi history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of the modern city of Turkmenbashi dates back to 1869. It was then that a Russian military expedition led by Colonel Nikolai Stoletov landed on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea in Muravyov Bay and established a fortified post.

The settlement's original name was Krasnovodsk. According to a common version, the name was given due to the characteristic pinkish hue of the water in the bay, which reflected the local reddish rocks at sunset. The city quickly outgrew the status of a simple fortification, becoming a significant settlement on the regional map.

Key Factors of Development

The transformation of a small fort into a major city was driven by a combination of geographical and infrastructural factors:

• Geography and Port: The presence of a deep natural harbour, protected from winds, made the city an ideal location for creating a sea port — the "gateway" to Central Asia from the Caspian side.
• Railway: A decisive impetus for development was the start of the construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway in 1880. The city became the starting point of the main line connecting the coast with the continent's interior regions.
• Trade: Its advantageous position at the junction of sea and land routes turned the city into a key transit hub for goods moving from East to West and back.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city was distinguished by a specific way of life dictated by its port status and scarcity of fresh water:

• Transit Economy: Life centred around servicing the port, the railway, and cargo transshipment (cotton, oil, grain, timber). Fishing and salt extraction also developed actively.
• Engineering Solutions: Due to the lack of natural drinking water sources, the city became one of the first places in the empire where industrial desalination plants began to be widely used.
• Multiculturalism: As a major transport hub, the city attracted workers, merchants, and specialists of various nationalities, forming a diverse cultural environment.

Major Historical Milestones

The history of the city's development is inextricably linked with the exploration of the Caspian region and the development of transport routes. Below are the key events that shaped the modern appearance of Turkmenbashi.

• 1869 — Foundation of the fortified point of Krasnovodsk by an expedition led by Nikolai Stoletov in Muravyov Bay.
• 1880 — Start of construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway, with the city station as its starting point.
• 1896 — Krasnovodsk officially receives city status and becomes the administrative centre of the district.
• 1943 — Commissioning of the first stage of the oil refinery, which became the flagship of local industry.
• 1962 — Launch of the regular maritime railway ferry crossing between Krasnovodsk and Baku.
• 1991 — The city becomes an important industrial and transport centre of independent Turkmenistan.
• 1993 — Krasnovodsk is officially renamed Turkmenbashi in honour of the country's first president.
• 2007 — Start of a large-scale project to create the "Avaza" National Tourist Zone in the immediate vicinity of the city.
• 2010 — Opening of a new international airport terminal capable of accepting aircraft of any type.
• 2018 — Commissioning of the new International Sea Port, significantly expanding the region's transit capabilities.

Key Stages of City Transformation

The development of Turkmenbashi proceeded non-linearly: from a military fortification to a transport hub, then to an industrial centre, and finally to a modern resort. Several turning points can be identified that determined the city's current appearance and economy.

• Launch of the Trans-Caspian Railway (1880s)
  The construction of the main line, starting specifically from here, turned the city into the main "gateway" of Central Asia. This event defined the urban structure: the city began to grow along the coastline and railway tracks, becoming a key link in trade between East and West.
• Rise of an Industrial Centre (1943)
  The opening of the oil refinery (TKNPZ) became a powerful driver of the economy. From a purely transport hub, the city turned into an industrial giant. The plant remains a city-forming enterprise to this day, providing jobs and the development of related infrastructure.
• Opening of the Ferry Crossing to Baku (1962)
  The launch of regular maritime communication with the opposite shore of the Caspian closed the transport ring, connecting the railway systems of Central Asia and the Caucasus. This strengthened the city's status as an indispensable logistical bridge in the region.
• Acquiring a New Name (1993)
  The renaming of Krasnovodsk to Turkmenbashi was an important cultural and political event. It symbolised the beginning of a new era in the history of independent Turkmenistan and a shift in ideological vectors in the development of the urban environment.
• Construction of the "Avaza" Resort (from 2007)
  The creation of the National Tourist Zone radically changed the region's image. A modern resort with skyscrapers, hotels, and parks grew next to the industrial city. This diversified the economy, adding a tourism cluster to the industrial one.
• Commissioning of the New International Sea Port (2018)
  The large-scale reconstruction of the port brought the city's transit potential to a world-class level. The new complex became the largest on the Caspian, allowing for the servicing of cargo flows along the Great Silk Road route and significantly modernising the coastal zone.

Architectural Mosaic: From Fort to White Marble

The architectural appearance of Turkmenbashi is a visual chronicle of its history, where pre-revolutionary brickwork, Soviet monumentalism, and modern Oriental high-tech coexist. Due to the specific terrain (the city is sandwiched between mountains and the sea), urban planning developed in terraces, descending like an amphitheatre to the bay.

Russian Empire Era (Late 19th — Early 20th Century)

The period of the city's formation as an outpost and transport hub. Buildings from this time are characterised by utility, but with splashes of bright architectural accents.

• Style: Eclecticism, "brick style", Pseudo-Moorish style.
• Features: Use of local shell rock and burnt brick. Buildings were constructed taking into account seismic activity and the hot climate (thick walls, high ceilings).
• Iconic Object: Railway Station. This is the architectural gem of the city, built in a pronounced Moorish style. The building is decorated with carved ornaments, arches, and elegant turrets, resembling a palace from an Eastern tale rather than a simple transport terminal.

Soviet Period (1920–1991)

During this time, the city was actively industrialised, which required mass residential construction and the erection of public buildings.

• Styles: Constructivism (early period), Stalinist Empire (Classicism), Soviet Modernism.
• Features: The city centre was built up with administrative and cultural buildings featuring colonnades and stucco moulding, while working-class districts grew with standard low-rise and panel houses.
• Iconic Object: Palace of Culture of Oil Workers. A vivid example of the Stalinist Empire style with characteristic monumentality, symmetry, and a grand entrance, emphasising the city's status as a centre of oil refining.

Independence Era (from 1991)

The modern stage is characterised by a radical renewal of the city's facade and a striving for grandeur.

• Style: Oriental futurism, high-tech, postmodernism.
• Features: Extensive use of white marble, tinted glass, and gilding. Buildings often have a symbolic shape.
• Iconic Objects:
  • International Sea Port: A complex of buildings where the passenger terminal is designed in the shape of a flying falcon, symbolising rapid development.
  • Hotel "Turkmenbashi": A snow-white high-rise building dominating the coastline.

"Avaza" Tourist Zone

Although "Avaza" is a separate resort zone, it is inextricably linked to the architectural context of the city. This is an area of pure postmodernism and modern resort architecture. Skyscrapers, hotels of whimsical shapes (in the form of a ship, a lighthouse, or a drop of water), and large-scale park ensembles with fountains and artificial canals predominate here.

Distinguished Personalities in the City's History

The biography of the city is made up of the destinies of people. The history of Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) has united military engineers who laid the first stone, sea explorers, and famous natives who achieved heights in sports and politics.

• Nikolai Grigoryevich Stoletov — General, Geographer, and Military Commander
  A key figure in the founding of the city. It was he who led the mission that landed in Muravyov Bay in 1869 and established the fortified fort of Krasnovodsk. Stoletov chose a strategically correct place for the future port, assessing the depth and protection of the harbour.
• Mikhail Nikolayevich Annenkov — Engineer, General of Communication Routes
  Head of the construction of the legendary Trans-Caspian Railway. Under his leadership in the 1880s, rails began to be laid from the city's piers deep into the desert. His activities turned the city from a military fortification into the region's main transport gateway.
• Stepan Osipovich Makarov — Vice-Admiral, Oceanographer
  The famous naval commander and scientist is closely connected with the history of the Caspian. He conducted large-scale hydrological research here, studying currents and depths. His works helped establish safe navigation in the port area and the development of maritime communication.
• Vladimir Ivanovich Morozov — Athlete, Olympic Champion
  A native of the city (born 1940). A legendary Soviet kayaker who became a three-time Olympic champion and multiple world champion. His sporting journey began right here, by the waters of the Caspian.
• Aman Gumirovich Tuleev — Statesman and Politician
  Born in Krasnovodsk in 1944. A well-known politician who headed the Kemerovo region of the Russian Federation for many years. He began his working biography in his homeland, working as a duty officer at the Krasnovodsk railway station.
• Valentin Mikhailovich Maslakov — Track and Field Athlete, Honoured Coach
  Born in the city in 1944. An outstanding sprinter and sports mentor who subsequently became the head coach of the national athletics team, raising a galaxy of world-class champions.