Nokhur

Nokhur (also Nohur) is a settlement located in Turkmenistan.[1] The area is known for sacred places connected to the Persian legend of the Peri, most notably the Gyz-bibi cave.[2] According to the Turkmenistan government website, the origin of the name of Nohur is disputed, with some locals believing it derived from Noah (many places in the region carry Biblical names) and some from the Peri themselves, as "no" and "hur" translate "nine peri".[2] The small and relatively untouched village of Nohur rests in an unmarked valley of the Kopet Dag Mountains, which make up the border of Iran and southern Turkmenistan. The people of Nohur dress and act conservatively, and their traditions have been able to survive Turkmenistan’s modernization because of the remoteness of their village. Nohurli consider themselves as descendants of Alexander the Great.[3]

Central Mosque in Kone-Gummez village, Nohur area.

Language

Nohur is also a dialect of the Turkmen language.[4]

Territorial division

Nohur area is primarily consist of Upper Nohur (Garawul and Kone-Gummez villages) and Lower Nohur (Old Nohur village).

Upper Nohur has Farmers’ Association “Yenish” which includes two villages. The project area totals 15,5 thousand hectares. The population of the two villages makes up 8,7 thousand inhabitants that stands for 12,3% of rural population of Baharly etrap (district), Ahal velayat (province), Turkmenistan.

Environmental challenges

A view from Kone-Gummez village over Hohur-Garawul area

During 1990-2005 the pastures experience overgrazing that exceeds the norm 3-4 times because cattle breeding has been transformed into local people’s main source of income. This has resulted in the degradation of mountain pastures and the extinction of valuable forage species and medicinal plants.

Forest vegetation is heavily degraded as a consequence of cutting wood for fuel and construction needs. Soil erosion, heavy mud flows and the formation of ravines have led to the reduction of cultivable areas and as soil fertility.

Water scarcity is also a very important problem of this region, due to low precipitation. Traditionally villagers gather the run-off from mountain slopes and gorges in specially built reservoirs called howdans. In favourable years the howdans store sufficient water to irrigate the fields during one season. But during 2000-2005 the howdans were left unfilled due to insufficient precipitations.[5]

History

Muhammedkuli Atabayev

Monument of Muhammetkuli Atabayev, one of the first enlighterners of Turkmenistan, Nohur village

(1888–1916)

Muhammedkuli Atabayev (1888–1916) - one of the first Enlighteners of Turkmenistan in the beginning of 20's century. He graduated from the Turkistan Teachers Seminarium in Tashkent. Atabayev is famous for developing a so-called Audio Teaching method (together with Artykgul Tekinskaya) that helped to teach illiterate to read and write just in 2 years.[6]

Artykgul Tekinskaya

Also known as Tatyana Mihaylovna (1878–1926) - one of the first Enlighteners of Turkmenistan in the beginning of 20's century. She graduated from Moscow Elizavetian Institute.[6]

Muhammetkuli Atabayev
Turkmen namazliks in mosque in Kone-Gummez village, Upper Nohur area, Turkmenistan
Turkmen Moslem Mullah, Nohur village, Turkmenistan, 21 April 2008.
A view from Kone-Gummez village over Hohur-Garawul area, 15 March 2008.
Official sign of 'Ýeňiş' Farmers' Association in Garawul village, Nohur area, Turkmenistan, 21 April 2008
A small pond in Nohur area, Turkmenistan, 10 April 2008.
Central Mosque in Kone-Gummez village, Nohur area, 21 April 2008
A typical open woodland in Nohur area. A view from Kone-Gummez village over Hohur-Kone-Gummez area, 15 March 2008

References

Ahmed, Akbar S.; David M. Hart (1984). Islam in Tribal Societies: From the Atlas to the Indus. Routledge. p. 234. ISBN 0-7100-9320-9.
Nokhur tourism.sport.gov.tm.
http://www.abandonthecube.com/blog/nohur-the-last-call-to-prayer/ Nohur: The Last Call to Prayer by 'Abandon the Cube Travel Journal'
Abazov, Rafis (2005). Historical Dictionary of Turkmenistan. Scarecrow Press. p. 159. ISBN 0-8108-5362-0.
United National Development Programme in Turkmenistan. Project on 'Capacity Building and On-The-Ground Investments for Sustainable Land Management in Turkmenistan'.
Encyclopedae of Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, 1984, pages 298 and 301. Publisher: Encyclopedae of Turkmen Soviet Encyclopedae, chaired by N.B. Atamamedov, Editor-in-Chief Office of Turkmen Soviet Encyclopedae.

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[1] Ahmed, Akbar S.; David M. Hart (1984). Islam in Tribal Societies: From the Atlas to the Indus. Routledge. p. 234. ISBN 0-7100-9320-9.

[official-2] Nokhur tourism.sport.gov.tm.

[3] ttp://www.abandonthecube.com/blog/nohur-the-last-call-to-prayer/ Nohur: The Last Call to Prayer by 'Abandon the Cube Travel Journal'

[4] Abazov, Rafis (2005). Historical Dictionary of Turkmenistan. Scarecrow Press. p. 159. ISBN 0-8108-5362-0.

[5] United National Development Programme in Turkmenistan. Project on 'Capacity Building and On-The-Ground Investments for Sustainable Land Management in Turkmenistan'.

[encyc-6] Encyclopedae of Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, 1984, pages 298 and 301. Publisher: Encyclopedae of Turkmen Soviet Encyclopedae, chaired by N.B. Atamamedov, Editor-in-Chief Office of Turkmen Soviet Encyclopedae.