Ashgabat:
is the capital city of Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic. Museums include the Turkmen Fine Arts Museum, noted for its impressive collection of woven carpets, and the Turkmen History Museum which has artifacts dating back to the Parthian civilisation. The Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan is an important institute of higher learning. Large mosques include the Azadi Mosque (which resembles the Blue Mosque in Istanbul), the Khezrety Omar Mosque, and the futuristic Iranian Mosque. Ashgabad is also home to the Arch of Neutrality, which is a large tripod, upon which a golden statue of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov (also known and generally refered to as Turkmenbashi, or father of the Turkmen). This statue rotates in order to always face the sun during daylight hours. It is said to be made of pure gold.
