Kerki

Geography

It is situated on a plain on the left bank of the Amu Darya river. Nearby towns and villages include Mukry (3.3 nm), Amydarýa (2.1 nm), Surhy (3.1 nm) and Kerkichi (2.2 nm).

Climate

| Jan avg record high C = 19.5 | Feb avg record high C = 23.0 | Mar avg record high C = 29.5 | Apr avg record high C = 34.9 | May avg record high C = 39.1 | Jun avg record high C = 42.2 | Jul avg record high C = 43.7 | Aug avg record high C = 42.1 | Sep avg record high C = 38.5 | Oct avg record high C = 32.7 | Nov avg record high C = 27.7 | Dec avg record high C = 21.1 | year avg record high C = 32.8 | Jan avg record low C = -6.8 | Feb avg record low C = -5.8 | Mar avg record low C = -0.9 | Apr avg record low C = 4.7 | May avg record low C = 11.2 | Jun avg record low C = 16.3 | Jul avg record low C = 18.0 | Aug avg record low C = 14.7 | Sep avg record low C = 8.9 | Oct avg record low C = 2.3 | Nov avg record low C = -2.9 | Dec avg record low C = -6.1 | year avg record low C = 4.5 |Jan record high C = 24.4 |Jan record low C = -22.8 |Feb record high C = 29.9 |Feb record low C = -19.0 |Mar record high C = 35.4 |Mar record low C = -6.9 |Apr record high C = 39.0 |Apr record low C = -0.3 |May record high C = 42.8 |May record low C = 6.2 |Jun record high C = 44.4 |Jun record low C = 12.6 |Jul record high C = 46.0 |Jul record low C = 16.4 |Aug record high C = 45.5 |Aug record low C = 11.2 |Sep record high C = 41.1 |Sep record low C = 4.8 |Oct record high C = 36.7 |Oct record low C = -3.6 |Nov record high C = 32.9 |Nov record low C = -9.0 |Dec record high C = 27.4 |Dec record low C = -20.9 |year record high C = |year record low C = |access-date = February 6, 2024}}}}

Etymology

According to Atanyyazow, the name Kerki is most likely of Persian origin, from ker ("fortress") and kuh ("mountain"), meaning "fortress on a mountain". However, Muqaddasī and de Goeje assert it is a Turkified pronunciation of the Persian name Karkuh (کرکوه), meaning "deaf mountain". The ancient name, Zamm, is of obscure origin.

On 29 December 1999, by Parliamentary Resolution HM-60, the city and district of Kerki were renamed Atamyrat in honor of Atamyrat Nyýazow, father of Saparmurat Niyazov, who had worked in Kerki as a teacher before being killed in World War II. On 25 November 2017, by Parliamentary Resolution No. 679-V, Atamyrat was changed back to Kerki for both the city and the district.

In Turkmen, the word "Kerki" refers to a "pick" or a "mattock." On the other bank of the Amu-Darya lies the town of Kerkiçi; The suffix "-çi" refers to a profession. Thus, Kerkiçi could be translated as "Miner," "Digger," or "the one who digs/mines." The two towns might share a common etymology.

Architecture

The urban core consists of numerous one-story brick structures dating back to the period of the Russian Empire.

Transportation

Air

The town is served by the new Kerki Airport, which replaced a defunct municipal airport in 2021.

Road

Kerki lies on the P-36 and P-39 highways, which both lead northwest to Turkmenabat, one on each side of the Amu Darya. Nearby junctions connect to the P-89, which leads north to the border with Uzbekistan at Tallymerjen, and the P-37, which leads southeast to the border with Uzbekistan at Kelif. In the opposite direction the P-36 also continues south to a junction with the Kerki-Ymamnazar ýoly, which in turn leads to the border with Afghanistan at Ymamnazar. In February 2013, a road bridge connecting the city with Kerkichi was commissioned; it replaced an old pontoon bridge.

Rail

In 1999, the rail line from Türkmenabat to Kerki was finished, linking Kerki to the Turkmen railway network without having to detour into neighbouring Uzbekistan. In late 2016, a railway line was built south to Ymamnazar on the border with Afghanistan and further to Aqina, turning Kerki into a railway hub.

Sights

Astana Baba Mausoleum is managed by the Kerki city museum, and consists of a minaret and tomb built in the 11th century. Allamberdar Mausoleum (ru) is also part of the Kerki city museum. This 11th-century building represents Seljuk architecture of northern Khorasan.

References

References

1. Bosworth, C. E.. (1989). "Archived copy".
2. Falling rain gazetteer
3. Atanyýazow, Soltanşa. (1980). "Түркменистаның Географик Атларының Дүшүндиришли Сөзлүги". Ылым.
4. Muqaddasī, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad, and M. J. de Goeje. 1967. Kitāb Aḥsan al-taqāsīm fī maʻrifat al-aqālīm. Bibliotheca geographorum Arabicorum, pars 3. Laydin: Maṭbaʻ Brīl.
5. (2017-11-27). "Внесены изменения в административно-территориальное деление Лебапского велаята". Türkmenistan Bu Gün.
6. Brummell, Paul. (2005). "Turkmenistan". Bradt Travel Guides.
7. (24 June 2021). "Kerki Airport awarded ICAO Code and International Certificate of Conformity". "Turkmenistan: Golden Age".
8. [https://www.openstreetmap.org/query?lat=38.33919&lon=65.46639#map=9/37.9269/66.5579 OpenStreetMap]
9. [http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20130214213338.shtml Президенты Украины и Туркмении открыли мост через Амударью и заложили новый аэропорт]
10. Grantham, Andrew. (15 July 2008). "Atamyrat to Afghanistan railway plan".
11. Salehai, Zarghona. (28 November 2016). "Afghan-Turkmenistan railroad inaugurated". Pajhwok Afghan News.