Merv is the oldest and best-preserved of the oasis-cities along the Silk Route in Central Asia. The remains in this vast oasis span 4,000 years of human history.
Located 120 km from Dashoguz in northwestern Turkmenistan, Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm region of the Achaemenid Empire. S Several outstanding architectural monuments have been preserved including the mausoleums of Fahrad-din Razi (13th century), Tekesh Khorezmshakh (13th century), Turabek-khanum Kala (14th century), the fortress Ak-Kala and the minaret of the mosque.
Joint listing with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
The Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor is a key section of the Silk Roads in Central Asia that connects other corridors from all directions. Located in rugged mountains, fertile river valleys, and uninhabitable desert, the 866-kilometre corridor runs from east to west along the Zarafshan River and further southwest following the ancient caravan roads crossing the Karakum Desert to the Merv Oasis.
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Last updated: September 20, 2023