Abadan, Turkmenistan

Capital City

An oil refinery stronghold turned war-ravaged shell, this sweltering Persian Gulf port city has clawed its way back from near obliteration. With summer temperatures regularly exceeding 122°F (50°C), Abadan's 42,868 residents endure one of Earth's most punishing climates while rebuilding around the skeleton of what was once the world's largest oil refinery.

The city's fortunes have always been tied to oil, beginning with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's first refinery in 1912. By 1938, it processed more crude than anywhere else globally. But the 1980 Iraqi invasion during the Iran-Iraq War devastated Abadan - the civilian population plummeted from 300,000 to just 6 people by 1986 as the city endured an 11-month siege and relentless bombardment.

Today's Abadan operates in the shadow of its past glory. The refinery now runs at pre-war capacity and the city is part of a free trade zone, but labor unrest persists over wage issues. While the planned oil museum may memorialize the industry that built this place, Abadan's fish market and growing East Asian investment suggest a population determined to diversify beyond its petroleum-powered history.