Merv is an oasis in central Asia. It covers about 2,000 square miles (5,200 square kilometers) in the vast plateau desert in the southeastern part of Turkmenistan.
The Merv has been a center of life and industry for hundreds of years, though it lies in the midst of a great wasteland. The ancient Persians called the Merv “the cradle of the human race.” Farming is the chief occupation in the oasis. The ancient town of Merv is in ruins. The modern city, Mary, stands approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of the old site. It was founded by Russians in 1881.
