Tejen

This article is about the city in Turkmenistan. For the river in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, see Hari River, Afghanistan.
Tejen
Tejen

Location in Turkmenistan

Coordinates: 37°23′N 60°30′E / 37.383°N 60.500°E / 37.383; 60.500
Country  Turkmenistan
Province Ahal Province
Elevation 161 m (528 ft)
Population
 • Total 52,000

Tejen (older spellings: Tedzhen, Tejend, Tejent) is an oasis city in the Karakum Desert, in Ahal Province of Turkmenistan. It lies along the M37 highway, between Dushak and Mary, 223 kilometres (139 mi) by road southeast of Ashgabat.[1] It has a population of approximately 52,000. To the east is the larger oasis of Merv.

The town contains the Charman Ahun Mosque, the Hotel Tejen, and numerous fertiliser and textiles factories.

History

In 1883 it was occupied by General Komarov during the Russian conquest of Turkestan. In 1916, when the Turkmens participated in a revolt against the Russians, Tejen was a hotbed of activity.[2]

Economy

Tejen is known for its melon production, and contains numerous fertiliser and textiles factories. It is also known for its narcotics, which are known locally as "Tejen tea".[3]

Landmarks

The town contains the Charman Ahun Mosque and the Hotel Tejen.[3]

Wildlife

It is located in an area that used to have Caspian tigers, which could intrude the area from Iran. Iran also had lions, and its presence nearby was a reason why Heptner and Sludskii (1972) could not deny the occurrence of lions in this region as well.[4]

Transport

It is a stop on the Trans-Caspian railway, and in the 1996 a new line to Mashhad in Iran was opened.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Google (9 October 2016). "Tejen" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Turkenistan". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 129-30. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
  4. ↑ Geptner, V. G., Sludskij, A. A. (1972). Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Vysšaia Škola, Moskva. (In Russian; English translation: Heptner, V.G., Sludskii, A. A., Komarov, A., Komorov, N.; Hoffmann, R. S. (1992). Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol III: Carnivores (Feloidea). Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation, Washington DC).

Coordinates: 37°23′N 60°30′E / 37.383°N 60.500°E / 37.383; 60.500

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