Mary

Mary formerly named Merv, Meru and Alexandria Margiana, is a city on an oasis in the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan, located on the Murgab River. It is the capital city of Mary Region.The ruins of the ancient city of Merv are located near the city.

It was founded in 1884 on the site of a former Turkmen fort, 19 miles (30 km) west of the ruined city of Merv, and was known by that name until 1937. The city is now a centre for the huge Shatlyk gas field and a transport junction. It has a large gas-fired power station, a plastic works, and various food-processing and light industries.