Neutrality Arch of Turkmenistan

The Neutrality Arch of Turkmenistan is in the country’s capital city of Ashgabat. It cost $12 million to build and stretches nearly 250 feet high. It signifies Turkmenistan’s neutrality in world affairs and is currently being demolished (as of 2011), to be replaced by a “Monument to Neutrality” in the Ashgabat suburbs.

The Neutrality Arch was topped by a 40 foot statue of former ruler Saparmurat Niyazov, as seen above. The statue rotated throughout the day so that it always faced the sun.

Niyazov’s successor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, had the statue removed in 2010, but it may be re-added to the Monument to Neutrality.

Originally published

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