Merv

Merv (Persian name: مرو), in current-day Turkmenistan, was a major oasis-city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, located near today's Mary. Several cities have existed on this site, which is significant for the interchange of culture and politics at a site of major strategic value. The site of ancient Merv has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Sites.

Agriculture

Here there was a Russian imperial domain of 436 sq. m., artificially irrigated by works completed in 1895. This was a restoration of the dam and irrigation networks of Bairam Ali. Some late 19th century British journalists and observers of Russian policy, notably Charles Marvin, believed that this Romanov demesne was deliberately sited to provide a granary (food source) on the route to India for a possible Russian military formation aimed at the invasion of British India. It was absorbed in the much larger area irrigated by the gigantic Soviet-built Karakum Canal in the 1960s.

Related Topics:
Russian imperial - Artificially irrigated - 1895 - 19th century - British - Journalist - Charles Marvin - Romanov - Granary - British India - Soviet - Karakum Canal - 1960s

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