Dasoguz
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Daşoguz formerly known as Tashauz |
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|---|---|
 Daşoguz
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| Coordinates: 41°50′N 59°58′E / 41.833°N 59.967°E | |
| Country |
 Turkmenistan
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| Province | Daşoguz Province |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mammetnyyaz Owezovic Nurmammedov |
| Elevation | 88 m (289 ft) |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 210,000 |
Daşoguz (Russian: Дашогу́з, also Dashoguz, Dasoguz; roughly "stone spring" in Turkmen), formerly known as Tashauz (until 1992; Russian: Ташау́з) and Dashkhovuz (1992-1999; Russian: Дашхову́з), is a city in northern Turkmenistan and the capital of Daşoguz Province.
It is located at latitude 41.833° north, longitude 59.9667° east, at an average of 88 meters above sea level. It is about 76.7 km (47.7 mi) from Nukus, Uzbekistan, and 460 km (290 mi) from Ashgabat. In nearby Lake Sarykamysh, you can find 65 different varieties of fish.
Daşoguz has a cold desert climate (BWk, according to the Köppen climate classification), with long and hot summers. Winters are relatively short, but quite cold. The precipitation is scarce throughout the year, with an average of 100 mm (3.93 in).
Daşoguz's population of 166,500 (1999 census estimate) is predominantly Turkmen and Uzbek, with smaller numbers of Russians, Koreans, Karakalpaks, and Tatars present. A large number of those forcefully displaced by ex-President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov have been resettled in lands adjoining the town.
Early in its history, it was a popular stop on the Silk Road because it had a spring, hence its name. Founded as a fort called Tashauz in the early 19th century by the Russians, the name was changed to the Turkmen form Dashkhovuz in 1992 after independence, and to Daşoguz by order of President Niyazov in 1999; the modern city is a Soviet-designed city with many monuments and museums acting as a local administrative and cultural center and rail junction.
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Wikipedia