Getting to the Germab Valley is not so easy. One can drive there by off-road vehicles, guided by the recommendations of experienced guides or local residents. Germab is separated from the Sub-Kopetdag line by two mountain ranges at once, the height of which reaches almost 1000 meters above sea level. It is not possible to walk along the Karagachi gorge since it is very narrow, and the full-flowing Sekizyab River flows along its bottom, which overflows in some places, flooding most of the gorge’s bottom. The only land path runs through the mountains, along the passes.
There has been always enough water in Germab: the valley is literally buried in greenery. In the spring, when the fruit trees are covered with a pale pink bloom cloud, and the surrounding mountain slopes are covered with scarlet placers of poppies and tulips, the natural landscapes are especially delightful.
The place is also notable for the existence of every opportunity for people with very different physical fitness to find something to do there: for example, hunting, rock climbing, wandering along a turbulent stream, somewhere waist-deep, and somewhere throat-deep in water, walking along simple mountain paths, gathering blackberries, grilling barbecues and enjoying other worldly pleasures. You can even go fishing. There is also a well with warm underground water, slightly hydrogen sulfide, the temperature of which feels about 25-30 degrees.
Family camping trips have an incomparable health-improving effect resulting from the complex impact of natural factors, including the sun, air, water and physical activity, on the body. It has been proven that long-term moderate loads in the form of cyclic exercises (walking, running, jumping, cycling, skiing) contributes to the improvement of such a valuable health-improving quality as endurance. This, in combination with tempering, causes the formation of mechanisms for effective prevention of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and, finally, provides an excellent opportunity to see the amazing natural sites of Turkmenistan.
Janmamed GULAMOV
