Mary Oblast

part of the Turkmen SSR. Formed on Dec. 14, 1970. (It existed previously from Nov. 21, 1939, to Jan 10, 1963.) In late December 1973 the oblast’s boundaries were changed. As of January 1975 the total area was 86,800 sq km, and the population was 568,000. [15-1285-3; updated]