Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center

Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center (Turkmen: «Älem» medeni dynç alyş merkezi) is a cultural center in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. It was officially opened to the public on May 18, 2012. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.[1]

The 95-metre (312 ft) tall structure[1] has a 17-metre (56 ft) decorative spire on top[2] and has six floors, each of which are 7 metres (23 ft) tall (four floors are above ground and two floors are below ground).[3]

A large glass and white-steel casing on top of the building contains a Ferris wheel known as 'Alem', meaning 'The Universe'.[4] Alem was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest Ferris wheel in an enclosed space at the time of the opening ceremony.[1][5] The Ferris wheel's casing is 57 metres (187 ft) in diameter[1][3][5] and access to it is located on the top floor of the building.

The wheel itself is 47.6 metres (156 ft)[5][6] in height and was built by Fabbri Group through its Giant Wheels brand.[7]

The combined height of the wheel and the three floors between it and the ground is 68.6 metres (225 ft).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 V@DIM. "President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attends the ceremony of laying flowers to the Monument of Constitution and opening the Alem Center". Turkmenistan.gov.tm. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  2. ↑ "Turkmenistan claims largest Ferris wheel record". Guardian. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cultural and entertainment center "Alem"
  4. ↑ "Turkmenistan claims world’s biggest Ferris wheel". Universalnewswires.com. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Turkmenistan builds largest indoor Ferris wheel". Guinnessworldrecords.com. 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  6. ↑ Ferris Ashgabat got Guinness Book of Records
  7. ↑ Giant Wheels - News

Coordinates: 37°53′55″N 58°17′57″E / 37.89861°N 58.29917°E