Boldumsaz
Place in Daşoguz Province, Turkmenistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boldumsaz, formerly Kalinin and Voro’silovabad, is a city and capital of Boldumsaz District in the Daşoguz Province of Turkmenistan.
Boldumsaz | |
|---|---|
  Boldumsaz Location in Turkmenistan | |
| Coordinates: 42°08′N 59°40′E | |
| Country |  Turkmenistan |
| Province | Daşoguz Province |
| District | Boldumsaz District |
| Postal code | 745190 |
Etymology
Scholars hold the name of the place to mean "Fortress in a Marshy Place"; a fortress, atop a square plateau, is visible from afar.[1]
Local people argue a different etymology infusing folk-lore.[1] The local Khan commissioned an architect to build the tallest minaret of the world at some place nearby but planned to execute him post-completion, lest he would replicate the designs elsewhere.[1] The architect got to know of this plan, used his resources to construct wings, and flew away from the minaret.[1] Landing at the fortress, he exclaimed the Turkmen equivalent of "Safe and Sound", which changed to the current name of the city with passage of time.[1]
History
The city has been identified with the medieval town of Nyzvar, which was sacked by Mongols; however, this identification has been contested.[1] During the Soviet period it was called Kalinin, in honor of Mikhail Kalinin.[2] It was renamed briefly Voro’shilovabad after Kliment Voroshilov.[2] On 5 May 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1327 assigned the present name.[3][4]
