Garadepe

Garadepe, previously known as Karadepe, is a town in Balkan Province, Turkmenistan. 15 km east of Ekerem, an important oil terminal of the Caspian sea, the town is primarly dependent on the oil industry. In 2022, it had a population of 9,016, making it the 2nd most populated place in Esenguly District.

Etymology

In Turkmen, Garadepe is a compound of two words: "Gara" and "Depe," which translate to "Black" and "Hill" respectively.

Although being the 2nd most populated settlement in Esenguly District, the town is very dependent on Ekerem, 15 km away, in many different sectors of activity. In 2012, a large sporting complex opened in Ekerem; yet, a certain amount of people frequenting the place were from Garadepe, highlighting a lack of infrastructure.