What animals live in Turkmenistan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Turkmenistan is a land of wide deserts and grassy plains, and some remarkable creatures call it home. The Karakum Desert — one of the largest sand deserts in the world — is where you can find the desert monitor lizard, a long scaly reptile that can grow over four feet long. Saiga antelopes roam the open steppes with their funny-looking bulbous noses, which actually help filter the dusty air. Rusty wants to add his favorite — the Caspian seal, found along Turkmenistan's western edge near the Caspian Sea, the world's largest landlocked body of water. Striped hyenas and caracals, a wild cat with tufted ears, also prowl the region at night. And up in the Kopet Dag mountains along the southern border, you might spot a Persian leopard if you were very quiet and very patient. God packed a lot of variety into this dry, rugged land!

What do kids eat in Turkmenistan?

Kids in Turkmenistan often eat a dish called plov — that's rice cooked with chunks of lamb, carrots, and onions all in one big pot. It smells wonderful and fills you right up! Families also eat a lot of flatbread called çörek, which is baked fresh and served with almost every meal. For something sweet, kids might snack on dried fruits like apricots and mulberries, or watermelon — Turkmenistan grows some of the best melons in the whole region. Lamb soup called shurpa is another favorite, especially in cooler weather. Food is a big part of family life there, and most meals are eaten together, which is something Turkmen families really treasure.

How do people say hello in Turkmenistan?

Great question! In Turkmenistan, most people speak Turkmen, and the common greeting is 'Salam' — which sounds a lot like the Arabic word for peace. When friends meet, they often shake hands and ask about each other's families, because showing respect for family is a big part of Turkmen culture. Older or more formal greetings sometimes include placing your right hand over your heart as you bow slightly — it is a warm way of showing that your greeting comes sincerely. Knowing even one word like 'Salam' is a small but real way missionaries begin building friendships with people they hope to tell about Jesus.

What sports or games do kids play in Turkmenistan?

Kids in Turkmenistan love football — what many people in North America call soccer. They kick the ball around in dusty courtyards and open fields, just like kids do all over the world. Wrestling is also a big deal there, since it has been part of Central Asian tradition for hundreds of years. Turkmen kids also play a horseback game called Gökböri, which is a rough-and-tumble team sport played on horses — pretty wild to watch! Chess is popular too, especially in schools. And in the evenings, many kids play simple running and chasing games in the streets near their homes, laughing and shouting just like kids everywhere. It's a good reminder that even though Turkmenistan feels far away, kids there are not so different from anyone else.

What's the weather like in Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan is a land of serious extremes! Most of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert, one of the largest deserts in the world, so summers get scorching hot — sometimes over 120°F (49°C). That is genuinely one of the hottest places a person can stand. But winter flips things completely. Temperatures can drop well below freezing, especially in the northern parts of the country. The people who live there — shepherds, farmers, families in small villages — have learned to handle both the blazing heat and the bitter cold. It makes you think about how tough and resilient the people of Turkmenistan are, and how God watches over them through every season.

Tell me a fun fact about Turkmenistan.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Turkmenistan sits in Central Asia and is home to one of the strangest sights on Earth — a giant pit in the desert called the Darvaza Gas Crater. It has been burning with real fire for decades, and locals call it 'the Door to Hell.' It is roughly the size of a basketball court, glowing orange in the middle of the dark desert night. Rusty wants to add that Turkmenistan is also famous for its Akhal-Teke horses, one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. Their coats have a natural metallic shimmer, almost like polished copper. The country is mostly covered by the Karakum Desert, which means 'Black Sand' in the local language — so this is truly a land of fire, sand, and shining horses.

What is school like for kids in Turkmenistan?

School in Turkmenistan is quite different from what many kids experience elsewhere. Students go to school six days a week and study subjects like math, science, and their native Turkmen language. But for many years, the government controlled what children were allowed to learn, and textbooks were filled with praise for the country's leaders instead of real history or science. One hard thing is that Turkmen children rarely get to learn about Jesus or read the Bible at school — in fact, it can be difficult for families to even find a Bible in their own language. That means many kids there grow up never hearing the good news that Jesus loves them and came to save them. That is a big reason why missionaries and Bible translators work so hard to bring God's Word to the Turkmen people.

Who are the unreached people in Turkmenistan?

Great question! Most people in Turkmenistan are part of a group called the Turkmen — they make up about 85 out of every 100 people in the country. Nearly all Turkmen are Muslim, and the vast majority have never heard the real story of Jesus or had a chance to trust Him as their Savior. That makes them one of the largest unreached people groups in Central Asia. There are also smaller groups like the Uzbeks and Russians living in Turkmenistan, and many of them are unreached too. The government there keeps a very tight grip on religion, so it is difficult for missionaries to work openly and hard for local believers to share their faith. But God's Word cannot be chained — and Herman and Rusty know He is at work even in places that feel very closed.

How can I pray for the people of Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia where most people have never heard the true good news about Jesus. The government there keeps a very tight grip on religious freedom, which means Christians can face real danger just for meeting together or sharing their faith. That makes prayer for this place serious and important work. Here are some strong ways to pray: Ask God to bring Turkmen people into contact with the gospel and to give them hearts ready to trust Jesus as their only Savior. Pray for the small, scattered groups of believers there — that they would stay faithful and grow brave even under pressure. Ask God to protect and encourage any missionaries trying to reach Turkmenistan, and pray that more of God's Word would become available in the Turkmen language so people can read it for themselves. God hears every prayer, and He loves the people of Turkmenistan.

What is a holiday or celebration in Turkmenistan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the biggest celebrations in Turkmenistan is Nowruz, which marks the start of spring and the new year on the Persian calendar — it falls around March 21st. Families gather, cook big pots of a wheat porridge called 'sumalak,' and enjoy music and games outdoors. Rusty wants you to know that even during festive times like Nowruz, most people in Turkmenistan have never had a real chance to hear about Jesus. The country's government keeps a very tight grip on religious life, and Christians there can face serious trouble just for meeting together. That makes us think — what a gift it would be if someone brought the good news of Jesus right into the middle of those celebrations someday.

What language do people speak in Turkmenistan?

Great question to ask when you're exploring a new country! In Turkmenistan, the main language is called Turkmen. It belongs to a family of languages called Turkic, which means it has cousins in other countries like Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Turkmen uses an alphabet based on Latin letters — the same kind used in English — though this is a fairly recent change. Russian is also spoken by many people there, left over from when Turkmenistan was part of the Soviet Union. One of the most important things missionaries and Bible workers think about is making sure people can read God's Word in their own heart language, the one they grew up speaking at home. Thankfully, the Bible has been translated into Turkmen, so people can hear about Jesus in words that feel close and personal to them.

What's a famous place to visit in Turkmenistan?

One of the most striking places in Turkmenistan is the ancient ruined city of Merv. It was once one of the largest cities in the whole world, sitting right along the famous Silk Road trade route that connected China to Europe. Traders, scholars, and travelers passed through it for centuries. Another place people talk about is Ashgabat, the capital city, which is known for its white marble buildings that seem to glow in the desert sun. But here is something worth thinking about: with all those grand buildings and ancient ruins, most people in Turkmenistan have very little access to the Bible or the good news about Jesus. The history there is long, but the gospel is what truly lasts.

Turkmenistan — Kids Missions Explorer

Akhal-Teke Horse

This rare breed, bred in Turkmenistan for thousands of years, has a coat that gleams like polished metal in the desert sun.

Karakul Sheep

Karakul sheep thrive in Turkmenistan's harsh desert climate and have been raised by Central Asian herders for over five thousand years.

Turkmenian Kulan

This wild relative of the donkey roams the Karakum Desert in small herds and can run faster than most horses over long distances.

Plov

A rich dish of rice cooked with lamb, carrots, and onions in a large iron pot, plov is the centerpiece of celebrations and everyday family meals alike.

Çelpek

These flat, fried rounds of dough are soft and slightly chewy, often made at home and served with tea during gatherings.

Dograma

Made from crumbled flatbread soaked in a broth of boiled lamb and onions, dograma is a hearty dish traditionally prepared for large feasts.

Turkmenistan

Things you should know about Turkmenistan

Wildlife you might meet

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Life in Turkmenistan

Missions in Turkmenistan

Pray for Turkmenistan