Mary

Mary, city and administrative centre of Mary oblast (province), Turkmenistan. It is located on the Morghāb River at the intersection of the Karakum Canal and the rail line between Turkmenbashi (Türkmenbashy) and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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. Pop. (2004 est.) 159,000.