Travel photographer Amos Chapple recently crossed into Turkmenistan on a three-day transit visa and was able to photograph many of the sights and monuments in Ashgabat, the capital and largest city. Turkmenistan is a single-party country, a former Soviet state, run by a president at the center of a cult of personality.

Photo: A young couple leave the Alem Entertainment Center in Ashgabat. The current president has a history of breaking obscure records. In 2012 the wheel atop this complex was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest enclosed Ferris wheel. The structure was built at a cost of $90m. (Photo by Amos Chapple via The Atlantic)

“Stacked Supercell with Lightning”. This huge mesocyclone supercell was near the Nebraska / Kansas border on the night of June 22nd, 2012. What a stunning structure! (Photo and caption by Jennifer Brindley/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

ATTENTION! All pictures are presented in high resolution. To see Hi-Res images – just TWICE click on any picture. In other words, click small picture – opens the BIG picture. Click BIG picture – opens VERY BIG picture.

Konishiki “The Dumptruck” of Hawaii stares down at his opponent during the first Sumo Bashai held outside Japan, at the Albert Hall in London, England. (Photo by Chris Cole /Getty Images). 1991

An aerial view taken with a drone shows the autumnally colored Fuerst-Pueckler-Park near Cottbus, eastern Germany, Saturday, October 29, 2016. The park, composed with great sensitivity in the 19th century by Prince Hermann von Pueckler-Muskau, is considered as one of the last great German landscape gardens. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/DPA via AP Photo)

A South Korean model poses with Peugeot 5008GT during a press preview of the Seoul Motor Show in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on March 30, 2017. South Korea's largest international auto show will open on March 31, with a total of 27 brands showing their latest cars and concepts. (Photo by Jung Yeon-Je/AFP Photo)

Students participate in a wet t-shirt contest at the MTV Beach Bash party put on by Global Groove at the Bahia Mar Hotel during the annual ritual of Spring Break March 26, 2008 on South Padre Island, Texas. The South Texas island is one of the top Spring Break destinations and attracts students from all over the country. (Photo by Rick Gershon/Getty Images)

Three female friends dancing in nightclub. (Photo by Cultura Creative (RF)/Alamy Stock Photo )

A visitor wears an outfit as she watches the St. George NextGen show for Fashion Week in Sydney on May 16, 2017. (Photo by Peter Parks/AFP Photo)