Mary , formerly named
Merv,
Meru and
Margiana, is a city on an
oasis in the
Karakum Desert, located on the
Murghab river. It is the capital city of
Mary Province,
Turkmenistan. In 2009, Mary had a population of 123,000, up from 92,000 in the 1989 census. In
Kerait tradition,
Mary, mother of Jesus, was
buried here.