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Despite a comparative young age - Geok - Tepe fortress was constructed only in 1869 - it is a significant place which played a major role in the history of Turkmenistan . It became the last bastion on the way of Imperial Russia to Central Asia .
The fortress was constructed by Russians on the Caspian Sea shore as a base for the armies moving to the territory of Central Asia .
Despite the desperate attempts of Tekins (local residents) to defend the fortress, Russians attacked it in August of 1879 and after long-lasting artillery fire took the fortress. But it did not last long: Turkmen threw Russians back to the shores of the Caspian Sea .
Attempts of Russians to take Geok - Tepe by storm did not stop but the final conquest took place only in December, 1880: Russians returned, dug an underground tunnel under the fortress, blew up the gate and took Geok - Tepe. On January 18th, 1881 Russians moved to Ashkhabad and established East- Caspian area which included such cities as Mangyshlak, Kyzyissy, Ashkhabad , Tedzhen and Merv.
Today Geok - Tep ó Fortress is a historical-architectural monument of the country. It towers above the Caspian Sea as a reminder of that memorable battle which changed the course of history for many people.
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