Ashgabat Cable Car

The Ashgabat Cable Car is a 4 km (2.5 mi) cableway connecting Ashgabat to the foothills of the Kopetdag mountains. It is the only cable car in Turkmenistan, completed on October 18, 2006. Each of the 14 cabins can hold 8 passengers and travels at a speed of 6 meters per second, with departures every 72 seconds and a travel time of 10 minutes. The departure station, situated south of the Main Museum of Turkmenistan, is at an elevation of 1,270 meters (4,170 feet). It features a waiting area, ticket office, technical services, and equipment. A 6,500 square meter (70,000 square foot) park provides parking for 100 cars and 5 buses. The arrival station includes a building of over 1,000 square meters (11,000 square feet) with two restaurants and cafes seating 280 people, as well as various shops and staff offices. The surrounding area includes a sightseeing helicopter pad, covered terraces, stairways, pathways, and an 80-meter (260-foot) water cascade.