The Lost Empires of Turkmenistan

Spectacular aerial shots show the dimensions of the once-lost metropolises. In the neighboring Ulug Depe, an international team of researchers is bringing monumental fortifications into the spotlight, such as the ruined cities of Merw and Köneügentsch, which are declared protected sites of world culture heritage by UNESCO. Asia has become the focus of the media for new discoveries and ancient wonders. Why have the number of visitors increased since the mighty Turkmenistan empires have fallen? DNA analyses indicate Turkmenistan’s population have spread out, stretching as far as India, the Urals, and the Mediterranean. The Silk Road between China and Europe became the most important trade route in the world for thousands of years, and made Turkmenistan a significant site in history.