Balkanabat

Balkanabat, the regional capital of Turkmenistan's Balkan province, sits at the foot of the Uly Balkan mountains and a short drive from the Caspian Sea coast. Known historically as Nebitdag, the city built its identity around the oil industry and retains that working character today. The surrounding landscape — mountain backdrop, nearby water — gives it more geographic variety than most cities in this flat, arid country.

• Population87,822
• Nearest water from center7.3 km
• Nearest mountain from center24.7 km