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A City Where Only White Cars Are Allowed And If They Are Dirty You Will Be Fined
Not only are most cars on the road white – with some exceptions, silver and gold are also allowed, but they must be spotlessly clean.
If you drive around the capital of Turkmenistan, you will probably notice that most of the cars on the road are white. This is no accident. Back in 2018, a decree was passed according to which driving in black and brightly coloured cars is prohibited in the capital Ashgabat.
No one has explained why this bizarre decision was made, although many claim that it is connected to the superstition of the former president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Namely, he believes that the colour white brings happiness.
Not only are most cars on the road white – with some exceptions, silver and gold tin pets are allowed and must be spotlessly clean. If the police catch you on the road with a dirty car, you will have to pay a fine.
Ashgabat is often called the white city because all new buildings since 2000 have been built of white marble. Moreover, the capital of Turkmenistan holds the record for the highest concentration of white marble buildings in the world.
Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia along the Caspian Lake, which was created after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and borders Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Although there are many attractions, few people have the opportunity to see them live. The government is not interested in tourism, and according to some statistics, only about 10,000 tourist visas are approved annually.
