ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — The Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan has earned another spot in the record books with the world’s largest Ferris wheel in an enclosed space.
State newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan reported Saturday that Amanda Mochan of the Guinness Book of World Records was on hand for the unveiling of the Ferris wheel, which stands 154 feet high and cost $90 million to build.
This natural gas-rich nation has developed a fixation for record-breaking. In 2001, it was recognized as having woven the world’s largest carpet. In 2008, it claimed the title for the world’s tallest flagpole, although it has since been overtaken by North Korea, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan.
The 24-cabin Ferris wheel is enclosed in a glass-fronted snow-white steel structure that also houses the Alem entertainment center. Facilities include a bowling alley, two cinema screens, a restaurant, and a planetarium equipped with star-gazing equipment.
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