Mary

Mary is the main city of eastern Turkmenistan, a Russian foundation of 1884 laid out on a grid beside the Murgab river some thirty kilometres from the ruins of Merv, and it works as the base for reaching both Merv and the Bronze Age site at Gonur Depe out in the desert. Its regional museum holds material from both, in a large modern building. Cotton and gas dominate the local economy.

What you actually see

• The regional museum - material from Merv and Gonur Depe in a modern building.
• The Murgab river - the water that made settlement in this desert possible.
• The 1884 grid - the Russian layout of the modern town.
• The base position - the city's role as the access point for Merv and Gonur.

When to go

April to May and September to October avoid the extreme heat. Summer temperatures exceed forty degrees regularly. Winter is cold and grey.

Honest expectations

The city itself has little to see and functions as a base. Summer heat is punishing. Getting to Gonur Depe needs a hired four-wheel drive and a driver who knows the route.

Nearby

Merv is west, and Gonur Depe is north in the desert.