Located on an oasis near the site of the ancient city of Nisa, it is known for its handwoven carpets.  
Originally a Persian settlement, its name means "city of tears."  Located on an oasis near the site of the ancient city of Nisa, it is known for its handwoven carpets.  A Russian fortress was built there in 1881 and it grew after becoming a station on the Trans-Caspian railroad.  This city is situated at the edge of the Karakum desert, and was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1948.  FTP name this capital of Turkmenistan.
Originally a Persian settlement, its name means "city of tears."  
Ashgabat or Ashkhabad