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)

Two sculputures at the waterfront in Marseille – Ever feel like youve forgotten something? No its not a mind trick – these are the amazing photos of sculptures done by a French artist. The sculptures are the work of Bruno Catalano and might look like theyre missing vital organs but the invisible bodies represent a world citizen according to their creator. (Photo by Caters News Agency)

A mahout (elephant driver) walks a baby elephant across the city streets at night September 27, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Cambodia's Kun Sreynich and Philippines' Lopez Leah in action during individual judo finals at Chroy Changvar Convention Centre Hall C in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 15, 2023. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

A model wears a creation for the Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2023 show in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Lee Jin-man/AP Photo)

A relative of murdered prisoner, lies on a chair next to his coffin during a wake after a prison riot in the city of Altamira, Para state, Brazil on July 30, 2019. At least 57 prisoners were killed by other inmates during clashes between organized crime groups in the Altamira prison in northern Brazil Monday with 16 of the victims being decapitated, according to prison officials. (Photo by Bruno Kelly/Reuters)

British sailors taking shore leave on the British dependency of Gibraltar visit the Suiza Bar to watch a Spanish dancer perform on August 05, 1954. These Spanish entertainers are under contract and must return over the border by 11 o'clock. (Photo by Bert Hardy/Getty Images)

An orange oakleaf rests on a plant at the Taipei Zoo on November 26, 2020. (Photo by Sam Yeh/AFP Photo)