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Named after Turkmenistan's infamous "President for Life" Saparmurat Niyazov's self-proclaimed title, the city of Turkmenbashi (Leader of all Turkmen) serves as the sole major port in all of Central Asia. Located near the great Caspian Sea, it is an important transportation hub that many tourists pass through when traversing the region towards Europe. As such, it is mostly used as a veritable transition point wherein one can relax and spend the night before going off to other destinations. However, it also acts as a principal resort town with its beautiful coastline, crystal-clear waters and wonderful scenery framed by low mountain ranges.

Established as a strategic fortress in 1717 by the Russian Prince Alexander Bekovich-Cherkassky, it was utilized by the Russian army as a bridgehead in trying to invade the powerful Khanate of Khiva. They failed, and it was abandoned for over a century until it was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1920. Formerly called Krasnovodsk, it was renamed as Turkmenbashi in 1993 and was the subject of a billion-dollar modernization project with the goal of turning it into a major Caspian Sea resort. Now featuring a bustling shoreline stretching for more than 16 kilometers, it is a perfect destination for swimmers, divers and boaters. There are also notable museums in the city - the Natural History and Regional History Museums that showcase some of the region's cultural and historical heritage. Although it is not a place that tourists actually plan to go to, its arresting attractions are enough to delay their itinerary for a little while.

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