Turkmenistan is likely a name that most people won’t know about. The name isn’t as exciting compared to some of the popular places out there like Las Vegas. Still, Turkmenistan is a country that’s considered to be one of the most unique places in Central Asia. You probably won’t believe what’s in this country until you’ve seen it for yourself. Nevertheless, you’ll want to know what makes Turkmenistan one of the most interesting countries today.
Turkmenistan Facts
1. This country is Central Asia’s largest natural gas reserve.
Natural gas is an important resource for every country. With Turkmenistan being among the top list of having a large reserve for this resource, it’s only natural that its economy is stable. This also ensures that the country’s income is secured for many years to come. There’s also the fact that the country’s natural gas reserve gave way to one of the most bizarre things on the planet.
2. Turkmenistan is where you can find the “Gates of Hell”.
The name itself should be terrifying, but the Gates of Hell isn’t as infernal as you might think. Before it was dubbed as a hellish gate, it was usually referred to as the Darvaza gas crater since it is located near the Darvaza village in Turkmenistan. What makes this crater interesting is the fact that it’s been burning ever since 1971, an interesting fact about Turkmenistan. That’s all thanks to the natural gas seeping out of the crater nonstop. Knowing about that certainly makes the sight scarier. Still, it’s one of the places where tourists like to see for themselves.
3. Dashoguz is a city that has a meteorite site.
Unlike Ashgabat, Dashoguz has little to offer. However, its location serves as an ideal hub for tourist transportation. It’s also where visitors in the country tend to go if they need to have a ride going to Ashgabat. Still, the fact that a 7-kilogram meteorite fell in Dashoguz was enough to bring it to the tourist spotlight.
4. Ashgabat – The White City made of marble.
Just like most cities in the world, Ashgabat has many buildings. An interesting fact about Turkmenistan is that this city is different because most of them are pearly white! It was made possible thanks to the use of white marble. Wherever you look in the city, you’ll see tall buildings made of marble. Besides, white marble is also an ideal material for buildings in the city since it’s surrounded by desert. The elegance of it all makes the city a crowning glory for Turkmenistan.
5. The empty streets of Ashgabat during daytime give the place a sense of eeriness.
Being a marble city, you’ll likely expect a lot of people going around the city and trying to experience its glory. However, that’s not the case at all. During the day, city streets are almost just empty! It’s a strange sight for a city that is well built and maintained. Somehow, things are just like that in Ashgabat during the daytime. There’s also the tendency of tourists to be denied when trying to visit the country. One can say that they’ve visited a ghost town. However, things change once the night comes.
6. Ashgabat has beautiful night lights.
Apart from the buildings having made from using white marble, Turkmenistan’s capital city also has a beautiful night display. A lot of people say that the light strips are similar to Las Vegas. That’s also one of the reasons why most of the locals come out after the daytime. After all, there’s not much to see in the city during the day except for the shining marble buildings. In any case, the night in the city is a total contrast of what it looks like during the day.
7. Turkmenistan has the largest indoor Ferris wheel in the world.
You might have seen a lot of Ferris wheels before, but the one in Turkmenistan’s capital city is just unlike any other! It’s one of the most fascinating things you’ll see in Turkmenistan. To give you an idea of how big it is, the Ferris wheel is roughly forty-eight meters high! This Ferris wheel is also called “Alem” which means “The Universe”. The name is justified especially once night lights are switched on. Other than that, Alem holds the world record of being the largest Ferris wheel that was built indoors, a fun fact about Turkmenistan. It’s also thanks to the Fabbri Group that this giant Ferris wheel is more than just a beautiful building. Even the carts are air-conditioned! Still, the place is usually empty.
8. This country is a “closed-off” country due to censorship of outside information.
One of the things that make Turkmenistan interesting is the fact that outside influence is often rejected. For that reason, the citizens of the country have limited access to the internet. You’ll likely have to endure not being able to use your social media if you decide to visit the country. However, the country’s caution when it comes to outside influence is justified based on what it has gone through in the past. In any case, tourists who decide to visit Turkmenistan should prepare beforehand if they want to have access to the internet while in the country, especially in Ashgabat.
9. Its grand wedding venue that is fit for kings and queens.
The Wedding Palace, as they call it, is one of the most iconic things you’ll see in Turkmenistan. The appearance of the building alone is already grand and stays true to Turkmen beliefs. The most notable thing about this building is its golden ball at the center. It’s where the weddings are held and the golden hall is referred to as the “Shamchyrag”, a fun Turkmenistan fact.
Conclusion
Turkmenistan is a great country. There are also a lot of other places to visit such as archeological sites and canyons. Still, the country has strict regulations when it comes to outside influence. As such, only a select number of visitors are allowed to visit the place. Tourists who are granted visas for Turkmenistan are considered lucky. In any case, this country is somewhat out of this world. Turkmenistan is elegant and yet strange in many ways. Of course, many countries are like that. What makes this different is because of their culture and attractions, especially when it comes to the White City of Ashgabat and the Gates of Hell. Overall, Turkmenistan is a stable, interesting country and a safe place to be in.
I hope that this article on Turkmenistan facts was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!