Turkmenistan Desert Sites

A collection of Turkmenistan sites and desertscapes, including the Darvaza gas crater, Jerbent, the Karakum Desert and camels. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.

Soviet Van Transportation - Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Sisters with Little Brother - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
These two girls took good care of their baby brother. ..His necklace also provides extra protection...from snakes and other dangers. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Camel in the Desert - Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan
A camel poses for us in the late afternoon between Balkanobat and Ashgabat. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Crater in the Desert - Darvaza, Turkmenistan
This crater was formed by a collapse that occurred during gas exploration in the 1950s. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Camel Crossing in the Desert - Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
Camel Crossing in the Karakum Desert Read more about Turkmenistan.
Looking into Darvaza Gas Crater - Darvaza, Turkmenistan
The hell-like Darvaza Gas Crater blazes away in the middle of the Karakum desert, with nothing but stillness for miles and miles around. The crater is not a natural phenomenon, but a by-product of gas exploration in the 1950s. The crater collapsed and someone decided to burn the gas off by lighting it on fire. Today, it still burns... Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Women Cooking Goat's Head - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
Women charbroil the head and feet of a goat as preparation for a traditional meal...head and legs soup...The oven is also used for baking bread. Dough is stuck to the side which is heated by steam from hot coals. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Three Camels - Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan
A select three of the 183 camels we crossed paths with between Gonur Depe and Mary battle for face time. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Woman Holding A Baby - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
This woman shows off her niece in Jerbent, Turkmenistan. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Man with Headwear - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
This man was one of the few people who spoke Russian (because of his service in the Soviet Army) in the village of Jerbent. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Girl Outside Her House - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
The oasis town of Jerbent sports the modern sedentary (cement houses) and the traditional nomadic (yurts). Read more about Turkmenistan.
Dan and Audrey with Camels - Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan
Another piece of photographic evidence that Dan and Audrey are in fact traveling together. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Water Truck in the Desert - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
A water truck in the middle of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Enjoying A Turkmen Meal - Darvaza, Turkmenistan
Our group shares a romantic meal in a truck stop yurt in the middle of the desert near Darvaza. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Desert Truck Stop - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
The oasis town of Jerbent served as a truck stop of sorts. It's also a jerry can (gasoline can) exchange - those going into the desert pick them up, those returning from the desert drop them off. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Chubby Boy and Sister - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
Jerbent, an oasis town in Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert, was only recently settled (150 years ago) by nomads who were apparently tired of moving...During our visit, we were surrounded by excited children. This boy poses with his family's yurt in the distance. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Girl with a Goat - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
This girl shows us her family's goat in the desert village of Jerbent. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Herd of Camels - Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan
...on a camel with no name. Actually, 183 camels without names, to be exact. We crossed paths with this herd of camels on our drive from Gonur Depe to Mary and asked the owner how many he had in his herd. ..Our guide had never even seen a herd this big; the owner must have been a mighty rich man. ..Although a bit gawky and odorous up close, camels appear rather graceful from a distance, as they glide across the desert. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Shadows at Dusk - Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
Casting long shadows at dusk in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Goat Head in Fire - Jerbent, Turkmenistan
The women of Jerbent charbroil the head and legs of a goat in preparation of a a traditional nomadic soup-like dish. After the broil, the black skin will be scraped off and the meat will be cooked for almost 8 hours. Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Karakum Desert Sunset - Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Mother Camel and Babies - Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan
A mother huddles close to her offspring in the desert between Gonur Depe and Merv. Read more about Turkmenistan.
Camel in the Desert - Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan
A camel on the horizon in the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan Read more about our visit to Turkmenistan.
Talking to a Camel - Gonur Depe, Turkmenistan
Helen peeks out cautiously from behind our van as another curious camel seeks her out...Friendly and rather gregarious, these camels were happy to entertain us. Read more about Turkmenistan.