In the depths of the abyss

With the initiative of our Hero Arkadag, a new chapter of cooperation with speleologist scientists from the French Republic has been opened. The official visit conducted by the French Republic was significant in every aspect and possessed unique features capable of increasing the interest of the global community. Our National Leader, speaking about the novelty of the cooperation and one of its interesting directions—speleology—highlighted that French specialists have already successfully conducted several expeditions to study biodiversity and carry out scientific research in the rare caves located in the mountain ranges of Koytendag, which serves as an indicator of the multifaceted nature of these relations.The unique beauty and distinctiveness of Koytendag’s caves, distinguished by the diversity of their flora and fauna and the charm of their nature, captivate global travelers. Koytendag and its wonders have attracted the attention of French speleologists for many years. In 2023 and 2024, they organized expeditions and carried out work related to the exploration of new caves in the mountains.Among the numerous activities conducted by the expedition members are the creation of a 3D model of the Gulshirin cave, the digital enhancement of the cave’s unique features using advanced technology, the exploration of a 19-kilometer section within the cave, the discovery of new caves, and more.The results of these new explorations were first presented to the global community on May 1 of last year at the French Institute in Ashgabat. The outcomes of these visits are vividly captured in the photographs taken by the team members.Our Hero Arkadag stated that all necessary conditions will be created by our country for Turkmen and French scientists to continue their joint work in this and other fields in the future. This cooperation could open new horizons for the world of science.