Turkmenistan – Turkmenistan's capital is Ashgabat

(Pronounced turk-men-iss-tan and ash-guh-baht)

To remember the capital of Turkmenistan, use the following mnemonic:

A half turkey, half man stands (Turkmenistan) in front of an ashtray that's gone bad (Ashgabat).

Interesting facts about Ashgabat:

- City of White Marble: Ashgabat holds a Guinness World Record for having the highest concentration of white marble buildings anywhere in the world, giving the capital a surreal, gleaming monochromatic aesthetic.

- Monumental Architecture: The city is dominated by futuristic, record-breaking structures and massive monuments, including the gigantic Star of Turkmenistan and the Wheel of Dilgoshaly, which features the world’s largest enclosed Ferris wheel.

- Desert Oasis: Located in the Karakum Desert near the border with Iran, the capital sits right next to the ruins of Nisa, an ancient city that served as one of the earliest capitals of the Parthian Empire and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.