The world’s largest indoor Ferris wheel is a real head scratcher. Evidently, the current President of Turkmenistan likes to set records. In 2012, they finished erecting this complex which contains a completely indoor, and air-conditioned, Ferris wheel. It is claimed to stand at 154 feet high with a diameter of 187 feet. Those dimensions seem odd to me. The Ferris wheel has 24 six-passenger cabins. It’s a Guinness World record holder. It was not open when we visited so we did not have a chance to ride it. Our guide said it costs one dollar to ride. He also said it’s very busy on weekends. We were the only people there when we visited.

The complex also contains the Alem entertainment center with a bowling alley, cinema screens, a restaurant, and a planetarium. It costs $90 million dollars to build. I guess if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

The first photo was taken from where we parked the bus which is on the curb of the street. The next two photos were just taken as we approached the Ferris wheel. You can see the passenger cars around the outside in the third photo.

I included the fourth photo because if you go off to either side of the main walkway up to the Ferris wheel, there are acres and acres of lawns and trees and paths and water fountains and lighting. It’s a magnificent place.

The last photo was from here but in the opposite direction and from where our bus parked. If you crossed that mountain in the background, you would be in Iran. It’s that close.