Baýramaly (formerly Bayram-Ali, also spelled Bairam Ali; earlier Bahrām Ali; ) is a city in and the seat of Baýramaly District, Mary Province,
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...
. It lies about 27 km east of the provincial capital Mary, along the main railway line from Ashgabat to
Tashkent
Tashkent (), also known as Toshkent, is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uzbekistan, largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of more than 3 million people as of April 1, 2024. I ...
. In 2022, its population was 70,376 (up from 43,824 in the 1989 census).
The modern city of Baýramaly was established in 1887 as part of the Murgab Imperial Estate, a property of the Russian crown. Over the following decades, the town experienced rapid growth, with the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...
investing in factories, irrigation systems, hospitals, orchards, nurseries, and parks. It became a symbol of the Russian Empire's "civilizing mission" in Central Asia and was prominently featured in Russian propaganda to showcase the empire's ability to transform inhospitable environments. However, in later years, the project was exposed as a sham. In particular, Count K. K. Pahlen, in his report on travels to
Russian Turkestan
Russian Turkestan () was a colony of the Russian Empire, located in the western portion of the Central Asian region of Turkestan. Administered as a Krai or Governor-Generalship, it comprised the oasis region to the south of the Kazakh Steppe, b ...
, revealed that the glorified photographs of the Baýramaly estate had been staged "to present a rosy picture to the Tsar."
Etymology
The city is named after Bayram 'Ali Khan Qajar, the most prominent ruler of the Qajar Principality of Merv. According to Atanyyazow, Bayramaly ruled Mary in the 18th century, from 1782 to 1785, although the actual length of his reign remains disputed.
Overview
The city is located in a dry
oasis
In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentMurghab River. Baýramaly is a climatic spa and visitors are often sent to the city for treatment of chronic
kidney disease
Kidney disease, or renal disease, technically referred to as nephropathy, is damage to or disease of a kidney. Nephritis is an Inflammation, inflammatory kidney disease and has several types according to the location of the inflammation. Infla ...
hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...
, renal
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
, and problems of blood circulation.Great Soviet Encyclopedia The Baýramaly Sanitorium () has been in operation since 1933. In 2010 the sanitorium underwent renovation and two new buildings were added. The sanitorium specializes in ailments of the kidneys and urinary tract, diseases of the cardiovascular system, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''BWk''), with cool winters and very hot summers. Rainfall is generally light and erratic, and occurs mainly in the winter and autumn months.
Economy
The economy is based around food and construction materials industries. Natural gas is also extracted in the area.
Sights
*Close to Baýramaly are the ruins of ancient
Merv
Merv (, ', ; ), also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian peoples, Iranian city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium& ...
.
* to the north is the mausoleum of Hudaýnazar Öwlüýä (early 12th century).