GEOGRAPHY OF TAJIKISTAN
Located in southeastern Central Asia and bordered by Kyrgyzstan to the north, the Xinjiang region of China to the east, Afghanistan to the south, and Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan covers 144,100 square kilometers (55,251 square miles), which is roughly the same size as Illinois, Wisconsin or Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland combined. Tajikistan sits on the Eurasian Tectonic Plate. Not far north of its border is the Indian Tectonic Plate, which means it region is very active seismically and prone to earthquakes, some of which have been very destructive.
The smallest nation in Central Asia and once the southernmost extension of the Soviet empire, Tajikistan stretches 700 kilometers (434 miles) east to west and 350 kilometers (217 miles) north to south. Tajikistan contains some of the world's highest peaks and is noted for its many glacier-fed rivers. The massive Tajikistan Glacier (formerly the Vanch-Yakh or Fedchenko Glacier) is the largest glacier in the world outside of the polar regions, at more than 700 square kilometers (270 square miles). Elevations in northwest and southwest Tajikistan are lower than in the rest of the country. The fertile Fergana Valley in the far north, with soils created by rich river deposits, is populated agricultural area shared with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Landlocked and strategically located between Central Asia, China and Afghanistan, Tajikistan shares an 1,357-meter (800-mile) border with Afghanistan through rugged, mountainous terrain. Some of the borders were worked out by Russia and Britain as a settlement to bring an end to the Great Game. Major land features in Tajikistan include the Pamirs and the Fergana Valley, which Tajikistan shares with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Tajikistan is a mountainous country dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast, with most people living in the; western Fergana Valley in the north, and Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in the southwest. Tajikistan has a territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan over land in the Isfara Valley in the far northeast, and full demarcation of the border with Uzbekistan has been delayed by Uzbekistan’s mining of its borders. In the Fergana Valley, there are two small exclaves of Tajikistan, one surrounded by Kyrgyzstan, the other by Uzbekistan. [Source: Library of Congress, January 2007]
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces ( viloyatho , singular - viloyat ), 1 autonomous province* ( viloyati mukhtor ), 1 capital region** ( viloyati poytakht ), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand); note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses. [Source: CIA World Factbook]
Impact of Geography on the People of Tajikistan
The population of Tajikistan is concentrated at lower elevations. As many as 90 percent live around Dushanbe and in valleys with arable land. Overall population density increases from east to west. The valleys where people live tend to be very narrow. Agriculture is nourished by silt and irrigation waters delivered by fast-flowing rivers and streams fed by melting snow. As one moves from west to east the landscapes gets progressively greener. This is result of the rain blocking effect of mountains in the west and the moist winds and rain catching effect of the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains in the east. Along the Tajikistan and China border mountains are broken up by gaps and passes used by Silk Road traders.
Tajikstan is effectively divided into three regions divided by mountains whose roads become impassable in the winter. They are: 1) the northern portions, dominated by the town of Khojand; 2) Dushanbe is in the south. 3) To east is the Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Still a part of Tajikistan, it is a sparely populated area inhabited mostly by small valley-based ethnic groups including the Pamiri Tajiks and Kyrgyz. The most developed town in this area is Khorog. Tajikistan is bordered by Xinjiang in China, which has a small Tajik population. [Source: Eden Naby, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 6: Russia — Eurasia / China” edited by Paul Friedrich and Norma Diamond, 1994]
Culturally, Tajikistan is sometimes divided into north and south. The Zarafshan Mountains with their lush valleys and flat plains form the northern area, where Tajik and Uzbek cultures have traditionally mixed and become fused. The Hissar, Gharategin, and Badakhshan mountains form the southern region. Here, Tajiks live as part of major clan organizations. During the 1924 administrative divisions of Central Asia, the centers of the old Tajik culture (i.e., Samarqand and Bukhara) were given to Uzbekistan. Restoration of these cities to Tajikistan is a long-sought goal. [Source: I. Bas, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life,” Cengage Learning, 2009 *]
The entire Tajik-inhabited region is very mountainous with narrow valleys; crops are nourished by mineral silt and irrigation from rapidly flowing rivers fed by melting snow. The isolation of the Pamiri Tajiks has kept them close to their ancient traditions. Although the people of the Khojand region also are isolated, they are more accessible to the other republics. They were the ruling clan in the Soviet era. Dushanbe (Stalinobod from 1929 to 1961), the capital, is in the west-central region and is the largest city. In 1924, it was chosen to be the capital of the new autonomous republic because of its low population and central location. [Source: Everyculture.com]
Geographical Data for Tajikistan
Area: total: 144,100 square kilometers (55,637 square miles); land: 141,510 square kilometers (54,637 square miles); water: 2,590 square kilometers (1,000 square miles). Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E. [Source: CIA World Factbook] Elevation: highest point: Qullai Somoniyon 7,495 meters (24,590 feet); lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 meters (984 feet); mean elevation: 3,186 meters (10,453 feet). [Source: CIA World Factbook]
Land boundaries: total: 4,130 kilometers (2,567 miles); border countries (4): Afghanistan 1,357 kilometers (843 miles); China 477 kilometers (296 miles); Kyrgyzstan 984 kilometers (611 miles); Uzbekistan 1,312 kilometers (815 miles). Coastline: 0 kilometers (0 miles) (landlocked).
Land use: agricultural land: 27.9 percent (2023 estimate); arable land: 6.1 percent (2023 estimate); permanent crops: 1.5 percent (2023 estimate); permanent pasture: 20.4 percent (2023 estimate); forest: 3.1 percent (2023 estimate); other: 69 percent (2023 estimate). Arable land is land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest. Permanent crops is land cultivated for crops like fruit trees oranges that are not replanted after each harvest. Irrigated land: 5,681 square kilometers (2,193 square miles) (2022). About 75 percent of Tajikistan’s agricultural land is in the Fergana Valley. The remainder is in the mountain valleys, the western plains around Dushanbe and irrigated areas near the major rivers. Forests are found mostly in the mountains.
Central Asia
Central Asia embraces Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, five former Soviet republics. Sometimes western China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, south-central Russia and/or Mongolia are included depending on whether the countries are grouped together by language family, geography, horseman-nomadic traditions or sharing the “stan” suffix.” The core five Central Asian nation, plus western China (Xinjiang) are sometimes called Turkestan (Turkistan) because many of the people that live there speak Turkic languages. The term “Inner Asia” is also used. It includes Tibet and Manchuria, with a particular focus on people with horseman-nomadic traditions.
Central Asia has traditionally provided a bridge between Asia and Europe, which meet on the Eurasia steppe. The region is often regarded as exotic because its association with the Silk Road, the Great Game, and cultures and people that Westerners have traditionally known little about. The regions inaccessibility during the Soviet area only augmented this reputation.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan together occupy about 7.5 million square kilometers (2,895,766 square miles), an area around half the size of the continental United States or two thirds the size of the European Union. Central Asia is defined geographically by the Caspian Sea to the west, the northern part of the Kazakhstan steppe to the north, the Altay Mountains and Taklamakan Desert of China to the east and the Pamirs and southern Turkmenistan deserts in the south. The dying Aral Sea lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
See Separate Article: EURASIAN STEPPE, CENTRAL ASIA AND TURKESTAN factsanddetails.com
Topography and Land Cover of Tajikistan
Mountains cover 93 percent of Tajikistan and and three quarters of that is under permanent snow or glaciers. The high passes are often blocked by snow and landslides well into spring. The mountains bring snowmelt water and life. Between some of the mountain peaks and ridges are highland pastures used by herders, forested valleys and clear swift streams that feed Tajikistan’s vital rivers and hydroelectric power industry. The famous steppes and deserts of Central Asia are mostly in other Central Asian countries.
Southeast Tajikistan is occupied by the arid and high Godesberg plateau, which stretches into China and Afghanistan. Situated at an elevation of around 3,660–4,570 meters (12,000 to 15,000 feet) high, this massive plateau is considered part of the Pamirs system. The western third of Tajikistan is comprised of foothills and steppes. The only extensive low districts are the Tajik section of the Fergana Valley in the north and the hot, dry Gissar and Vakhsh valleys in the southwest. [Source: Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., Columbia University Press; [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]
The lower elevations of Tajikistan are divided into northern and southern regions by a complex of three mountain chains that constitute the westernmost extension of the massive Tian Shan system. Running essentially parallel from east to west, the chains are the Turkestan, Zarafshon, and Hisor (Gisar) mountains. The last of these lies just north of the capital, Dushanbe, which is situated in west-central Tajikistan. The mountain chains are interspersed with deep valleys formed by a complex network of rivers. The eastern mountains contain many glaciers and lakes. The Fedchenko Glacier, which covers 700 square kilometers (270 square miles), is the largest non-polar glacier in the world. The rivers have cut numerous steep and winding canyons throughout the country's mountain region. Many of these canyons attract mountain and rock climbers. [Source: Library of Congress, January 2007]
Part of the Fergana Valley is located in a the northern spur region of Tajikistan. This valley is the most densely populated region in Central Asia and spreads across northern Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on the east and lies between two mountain ranges. The Fergana Valley reaches its lowest elevation of 320 meters at Khujand on the Syr Darya.. Rivers bring rich soil deposits into the Fergana Valley from the surrounding mountains, creating a series of fertile oases that have long been prized for agriculture.
Although only about 4 percent of Tajikistan is forested, the country's woodlands are renowned for their beauty and abundant wildlife. The trees are primarily coniferous, though the lower slopes boast ancient walnut groves. The diverse wildlife includes many varieties of mountain sheep and goats, notably the rare markhor, as well as Siberian horned goats. Brown bears, wolves, wild boars, lynxes, and the endangered snow leopards inhabit the lower mountain regions, while deer, wolves, foxes, and badgers live on the steppes. Western Tajikistan has scattered steppe areas that rise into the mountains' foothills. Steppe vegetation consists of low shrubs and drought-resistant grasses, as well as broad fields of wild poppies and tulips. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]
Water and Rivers of Tajikistan
Tajikistan's mountainous terrain has created an extensive network of rivers, but several large Central Asian rivers originating elsewhere cross the country as well, most notably the Syr' Darya (Sirdaryo—Syr River) and the Amu' Darya (Amu River). Tajikistan has 947 rivers which are over 10 kilometers long. The largest rivers are the Amu Darya, the Syr-Darya, the Zeravshan,, Vakhsh and Panj. More than 200 mineral water springs have been recorded. Among them are the Shaambary, Khoja Obi Garm, and Garm-Chashma, which are used for mineral baths. [Source: advantour.com]
The Zarafshon River runs 316 kilometers (of a total length of 781 kilometers) through the center of Tajikistan. Tajikistan's rivers reach high-water levels twice a year: in the spring, fed by the rainy season and melting mountain snow, and in the summer, fed by melting glaciers. The summer freshets are the more useful for irrigation, especially in the Fergana Valley and the valleys of southeastern Tajikistan.
Major watersheds (area square kilometers (square miles)): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 square kilometers (444,963 square miles)), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 square kilometers (206,463 square miles)), Syr Darya (782,617 square kilometers (302,169 square miles)). Total renewable water resources: 21.91 cubic kilometers (2011); Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 11.49 cubic kilometers a year (6 percent/4 percent/91 percent); per capita: 1,740 cubic meters a year (2006). [Source: CIA World Factbook]
The Amu Darya, Syr Darya, and Zeravshan are are used for irrigation. Dams and irrigation projects, notably the Nurek dam and the Great Gissar Canal, have opened almost 400,000 hectares (1 million acres) of land to cultivation and also provide hydroelectric power. However, Tajikistan has traditionally been too dependant on its dams for power and has experienced serious energy shortages in the winter when water levels are lower. [Source: Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., Columbia University Press]
The rivers in Central Asia are often brown and muddy even many hundreds of miles from their sources. This is because the water contains suspended “yellowish-grey marl, or loess” that is very fine and stays suspended in the water for a long time. One geologist wrote these minerals are “formed by the disintegration of porphyry rock carried by the wind off the surrounding mountains in the form of very fine dust” and “it gradually settled and built by the Central Asian plateau.”
Amu Darya and Syr Darya
The Syr Darya and the Amu Darya are the two largest and most important rivers in Central Asia. They bring rich soil deposits to agricultural areas. The Syr Darya flows through the Fergana Valley into Uzbekistan, then into Kazakhstan, where it empties into the Aral Sea. The Syr Darya is shared by Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan (where the source is), Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan (where the mouth is. It is 3,078 kilometers (1,912 miles) long. The Amu Darya river is shared by Tajikistan (where the source is), Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan (where the mouth is). It is 2,620 kilometers (1,628 miles) long. [Source: CIA World Factbook]
The Amu Darya is Central Asia's largest river. It begins as the Panj, its upper tributary, along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. In Tajikistan, the Amu Darya runs 921 kilometers (571 miles). Two large tributaries of the Amu' Darya, the Vakhsh (also known as the Surkhon) and the Kafirnigan, run from northeast to southwest across western Tajikistan in great valleys. The Vakhsh is the second longest river in Tajikistan after the Amu Darya. East of the capital city of Dushanbe, in the city of Norak (Nurek), the Vakhsh River has been dammed to produce hydroelectric power and facilitate irrigation. This dam is one of the world's highest and forms the Norak Reservoir, which serves Tajikistan's principal manufacturing center with water and power. [Source: Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia, Gale Group Inc., 2003]
The Syr Darya is the second longest river in Central Asia after the Amu Darya, with a total length of 1,488 miles (2,400 kilometers). The Syr Darya flows briefly through Tajikistan traversing the Fergana Valley in northern Tajikistan for 195 kilometers (121 miles). Another major northern river, the Zeravshan, runs east to west through Tajikistan for 196 miles (316 kilometers), and its total length is 484 miles (781 kilometers).
The Syr Darya and the Zarafshon are the two most important rivers in northern Tajikistan . The Syr Darya stretches 195 kilometers (of its total length of 2,400 kilometers) across the Fergana Valley in far-northern Tajikistan.
Amu Darya River System
The Amu Darya carries more water than any other river in Central Asia. The Vakhsh is an important source of hydropower. In the Soviet era, the Vakhsh River was dammed for irrigation and electric power, and factories were built along its banks. Most of the southern border with Afghanistan is set by the Amu Darya (darya is the Persian word for river) and its tributary the Panj River (Darya-ye Panj), which has headwaters in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. [Source: Library of Congress, January 2007]
The Amu Darya (called the Panj in its upper reaches in Tajikistan) is formed at the confluence of two Pamir rivers—the Vakhhsh (called the Surkhob in its upper reaches in Tajikistan)and Pyanj—and flows along Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, then the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border before winding into Uzbekistan and emptying into the Aral Sea. The Amu Darya and the Pyanj rivers form most of the 800-mile-long border with Afghanistan. Lake Kara-Kul, Tajikistan’s largest lake, is near the China and Kyrgyzstan borders.
The largest tributaries of the Amu Darya are the Vakhsh and the Kofarnihon, which form valleys from northeast to southwest across western Tajikistan. The Amu Darya carries more water than any other river in Central Asia. The upper course of the Amu Darya, called the Panj River, is 921 kilometers long. The river's name changes at the confluence of the Panj, the Vakhsh, and the Kofarnihon rivers in far southwestern Tajikistan.
The Vakhsh, called the Kyzyl-Suu upstream in Kyrgyzstan and the Surkhob in its middle course in north-central Tajikistan, is the second largest river in southern Tajikistan after the Amu-Panj system. In the Soviet era, the Vakhsh was dammed at several points for irrigation and electric power generation, most notably at Norak (Nurek), east of Dushanbe, where one of the world's highest dams forms the Norak Reservoir. Numerous factories also were built along the Vakhsh to draw upon its waters and potential for electric power generation. [Source: Library of Congress, March 1996 *]
Lakes in Tajikistan
Tajikistan is home to numerous beautiful mountain lakes, many of which are among the country's most impressive natural attractions. The largest lake in Tajikistan is Karakul, located in the Eastern Pamirs, while the deepest is Lake Sarez in the Western Pamirs. Surrounded by towering peaks and dramatic landscapes, these lakes are important features of the country's mountainous terrain. The majority of Tajikistan's lakes were formed by glaciers and are found in the eastern Pamirs.
Ozero Karakul (Lake Karakul, Qarokul, Kara-Kul) is the largest lake in Tajikistan and the Pamirs, and covering 380 square kilometers (147 square miles). Located in northeast Tajikistan, it is a salt lake devoid of life and lies at an elevation of 4,200 meters (13,780 feet).
Iskanderkul is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Tajikistan. Nestled among the spectacular Fan Mountains, it is often described as an emerald-colored body of water framed by snow-capped peaks. is associated with numerous local legends and traditions, including stories linking it to Alexander the Great, who is said to have passed through the region during his campaigns in Central Asia.The Iskanderdarya River flows out of the lake and forms one of the area's most famous natural landmarks, a waterfall known as "Fan Niagara." The waterfall plunges approximately 38 meters (125 feet) into a rocky gorge and is a popular destination for visitors. [Source: advantour.com]
Kulikalon Lakes are a scenic group of alpine lakes located beyond the Alaudin Pass in the Fan Mountains. Above the lakes rises the impressive Kulikalon Wall, which includes several prominent peaks, such as Mirali Peak at 5,120 meters (16,798 feet), Maria Peak at 4,970 meters (16,306 feet), and Adamtash Peak at 4,700 meters (15,420 feet). The lakes are known for their striking colors, which can appear to change with the sunlight and weather conditions. The area is a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and trekkers. Nearby is the Artuch mountaineering camp, an important base for exploring the surrounding mountains. Other nearby lakes include Greater Allo Lake and Smaller Allo Lake, located beyond Chimtarga Pass. The Alaudin Lakes are also renowned for their exceptionally clear and cold waters.
Marguzor Lakes, often called the Seven Lakes, are among the most picturesque natural attractions in Tajikistan. Located in a mountain valley, the chain consists of seven lakes, each with its own distinct color and appearance. The lakes range in shades from deep blue and turquoise to green and violet, creating a striking visual contrast against the surrounding mountains. The unique colors of the lakes, combined with the dramatic scenery of the region, have made the Marguzor Lakes one of the country's most popular destinations for nature lovers and travelers. Together, the seven lakes form a scenic sequence that is often compared to a necklace of jewels stretching through the valley.
Mountainous Areas of Tajikistan
Tajikistan is one of the most mountainous countries in the world, with vast ranges covering nearly 90 percent of its territory. These mountains are divided by deep gorges, valleys, and canyons through which numerous rivers flow. The country's mountain systems were formed during different geological periods, creating a diverse and dramatic landscape. The principal mountain regions include the Kuramin Range and Mogoltau Mountains in the north, the Gissar-Alay system in central Tajikistan, the Pamir Mountains in the east, and the rugged peaks of the Ak-Su region.
Mountains cover 93 percent of Tajikistan's surface area. The two principal ranges, the Pamir and the Alay, give rise to many glacier-fed streams and rivers, which have been used to irrigate farmlands since ancient times. Central Asia's other major mountain range, the Tian Shan, skirts northern Tajikistan. Mountainous terrain separates Tajikistan's two population centers, which are in the lowlands of the southern and northern sections of the country. Especially in areas of intensive agricultural and industrial activity, the Soviet Union's natural resource utilization policies left independent Tajikistan with a legacy of environmental problems. [Source: Library of Congress, March 1996 *]
More than half of Tajikistan lies above 3,000 meters (9,842 feet). Even the lowlands, which are located in the Fergana Valley in the far north and in the southwest, are well above sea level. In the Turkestan range, highest of the western chains, the maximum elevation is 5,510 meters. The highest elevations of this range are in the southeast, near the border with Kyrgyzstan. That region is dominated by the peaks of the Pamir-Alay mountain system. The mountains contain numerous glaciers, the largest of which, the Fedchenko, covers more than 700 square kilometers and is the largest glacier in the world outside the polar regions. *
The highest mountains are found near the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border. Among these are three of the four highest mountains in the former Soviet Union: 7495-meter-high Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly known as Pik Kommunizma,or Communism Peak), the highest mountain in the former Soviet Union; 7134-meter-high Pik Lenina, the third highest mountain; and 7105-meter-high Pik Korzhenevskaya, the fourth highest. Several other peaks in the region also exceed 7,000 meters.
Tajikistan Mountain Ranges
The mountainous regions of Tajikistan are dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast. The Pamirs—a mountain ranges that extends to the west of the Himalayas and Karakoram range—and the Pamir Plateau occupies the southeast part of Tajikistan. The Trans-Alay Range in central and northeastern Tajikistan is a southern spur of the Tien Shan — which also cover eastern Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and western China. These ranges contain mountains above 7,000 meters (22,966 feet) and huge glaciers like the 72-kilometer (45-mile) -long Fedchenko glacier, which hold more water than the Aral Sea and is the longest glacier in the former Soviet Union. Other major mountain ranges include the Fan Mountains in the east near the Uzbekistan border. The western third of the country is covered bya a lowland plain bisected to the north by the Gisar, Zeravshan and Turkistan ranges with the isolated Zeravshan valley between them.
Kuramin Range and Mogoltau Mountains form part of the western Tien Shan mountain system in northern Tajikistan. The Kuramin Range extends for about 170 kilometers (106 miles), with its highest peak, Boboiob, reaching 3,768 meters (12,362 feet). Southwest of the Kuramin Range lies the isolated Mogoltau ridge, which stretches about 40 kilometers (25 miles) along the Syr Darya River and reaches a maximum elevation of 1,623 meters (5,325 feet). The foothills and surrounding plains generally range from 320 to 1,000 meters (1,050 to 3,280 feet) in elevation. [Source: advantour.com]
Turkestan Range is one of the most important components of the Gissar-Alay mountain system. Stretching approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) between the Fergana and Zeravshan valleys, it reaches its highest elevation at Pyramid Peak, which rises to 5,621 meters (18,442 feet). The southern slopes are relatively dry and largely free of permanent snow, while the northern slopes are longer and support glaciers above 3,500 to 4,000 meters (11,500 to 13,100 feet). One of the largest glaciers in the range is the Rama Glacier, which extends for about 20 kilometers (12 miles). Important mountain passes cross the range, including the Shakhristan Pass at 3,351 meters (10,994 feet). The section between the Fan Darya and Kshtut rivers is known as the Fan Mountains, where Chimtarga Peak rises to 5,495 meters (18,028 feet).
Gissar Rangelies south of the Zeravshan Range and forms a major watershed between the Amu Darya and Zeravshan river basins. The range reaches its greatest elevations in its central and eastern sections, where peaks exceed 4,600 meters (15,100 feet). One of its highest summits is Peak 22nd Congress of the CPSU, at 4,688 meters (15,381 feet), while Kaznok Peak rises to 4,491 meters (14,734 feet). Several important passes cross the range, including the Anzob Pass at 3,372 meters (11,063 feet). At the foot of the mountains lies the fertile Gissar Valley, which extends about 100 kilometers (62 miles) in length.
Ak-Su Mountains lie about 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Khujand. These scenic mountains are renowned their its rugged granite peaks and unspoiled natural beauty. Several mountains exceed 5,000 meters (16,404 feet), including Ak-Su Peak at 5,355 meters (17,569 feet), Block Peak at 5,239 meters (17,188 feet), and Iskander Peak at 5,120 meters (16,798 feet). The steep granite walls, deep gorges, and high passes make the region a popular destination for mountaineers, trekkers, and horseback riders.
Pamirs
Pamirs is a 800-kilometer-long range made up of very high rounded mountains between 5,000 and 7,000 meters high that stretch across eastern Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan into western China. Known as “The Roof of the World,” "The Foot of the Gods," and "Midpoint between Heaven and Earth," they occupy one of the least explored and most sparsely populated regions of the world. The Pamirs offer some of the most spectacular Alpine scenery in the world but is difficult to get to.
Pamir means "pasture." In some ways the Pamirs are better described as a high plateau with mountains than a mountain range. There are many flat, broad, treeless valleys that are as high as the low mountains and filled with grass. Winding through the valleys are meandering, sometimes swampy rivers, and occasionally an Alpine lake. Between the peaks are large glaciers, including 72-kilometer-long Fedchenko glacier, the longest glacier in the former Soviet Union.
The Pamirs embrace three of the four highest mountains in the former Soviet Union: 7495-meter-high Pik Kommunizma, the highest mountain in the former Soviet Union and Central Asia; 7134-meter-high Pik Lenina, the third highest mountain in the former Soviet Union; and 7105-meter-high Pik Korzhenevskaya, the fourth highest. Other landmarks mountains include Revolution Peak and Academy of Sciences Range.
See Separate Article:
PAMIRS factsanddetails.com;
SOUTHERN PAMIRS AND SOUTHEAST TAJIKISTAN, NEAR THE AFGHANISTAN BORDER factsanddetails.com
TRAVELING IN THE PAMIRS factsanddetails.com
PAMIRS AREA OF KYRGYZSTAN factsanddetails.com
Glacier Areas of Tajikistan
Tajikistan is one of the most densely glaciated countries in the world. About 50 percent of the glaciers in Central Asia are in Tajikistan. There are more than 8,000 glaciers in the country and they cover an area of 8,500 square kilometers, which is more thatn all the agricultural land in Tajikistan. Comparatively large amount of precipitation and low average annual temperatures created in the mountainous regions of Tajikistan produce ideal conditions for glacier creation. Snow and ice produced in the winter cannot melt during summer and produce snow fields and glaciers. Significant differences in the geography of Tajikistan produce different types of snow sheets, snow fields, large glaciated areas and smaller glaciers. [Source: advantour.com]
The main areas of glaciation are concentrated around the highest Central Asian peaks. The areas around Communism Peak and Lenin Peak comprise more than two-thirds of all the glaciation areas in Tajikistan. In the western parts of Tajikistan the mountain ranges are not high enough. Relatively few glaciers are found in the Eastern Pamirs due to small amounts of precipitation. The largest areas of glaciation are found in the very high Academy of Sciences, Darvaz, Peter the Great, Vanch and Yazgulem ranges. Communism Peak, Eugenia Korzhenevskaya Peak and Revolution Peak are found here.
Massive Fedchenko glacier originates on the slopes of Revolution Peak. The largest glacier in Central Asia and the largest glacier in the world outside the polar regions, it is 77 kilometers long and, with its tributaries, covers an area of 651.7 square kilometers. The upper reaches of the glacier’s tributaries are 7,480 meters high. Its tongue reaches down to 2,910 meters. The glacier ice is 800 meters thick in some places. The ice volume is about 130 square kilometers. To the north-east, Grum-Grzhimailo glacier covers 142.9 square kilometers.
Near Communism Peak, where the Peter the Great and the Academy of Sciences ranges come together, is a complicated system of large radiating plain glaciers and a vast neve massif, known as "The Pamirs neve plateau". To the southwest of Communism Peak is the Garmo glacier which occupies 114.6 square kilometers. To the north-east is Bivachni glacier, which covers 37.1 square kilometers. It is a tributary of the Fedchenko glacier. In the foothills of Communism Peak, in a narrow deep valley, is the Fortambek glacier.
The second significant glaciated area is at the junction of the Zaalai and Zulumart ranges where Lenin Peak is situated. On the slopes of Lenin Peak, a number of glaciers originate. The largest of them are: October Glacier (88.2 square kilometers.), the Great Sauqdara (53.0 square kilometers.) and the Uisu (49.9 square kilometers.).
Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley is a large, curving strip of land with the Tian Shan mountains to the north and the Gasser-Allay Mountains, a branch of the Pamirs, to the south. Covering 22,000 square kilometers and drained by the upper Syr-Darya river, it is 320 kilometers long and occupies an area about three-quarters the size of Maryland and is so large that it doesn’t really seem like a valley at all. The entrance to valley is a narrow mouth.
The Fergana Valley spreads across northern Tajikistan from Uzbekistan on the west to Kyrgyzstan on the east. This long valley reaches its lowest elevation of 320 meters at Khujand on the Syr-Darya. Rivers bring rich soil deposits into the Fergana Valley from the surrounding mountains, creating a series of fertile oases that have long been prized for agriculture. In the Soviet era, the Vakhsh River was dammed for irrigation and electric power, and factories were built along its banks. Hot summers and frigid winters characterize the climate. The high mountain ridges protect the Fergana Valley and other lowlands from Arctic air masses, but temperatures drop below freezing more than one-hundred days a year.
The Fergana (also spelled Ferghana) Valley lies at a convergent point of some of the great deserts and great mountains of Central Asia. It is unevenly divided among Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with most of it in Uzbekistan. It is the most populous area in Central Asia, with 11 million people, many of them relatively conservative Muslims. The Uzbekistan section is home to about 10 million people, a third of Uzbekistan’s population. It also contains the region’s richest agricultural land that have traditionally produced melons and vegetables.
See Separate Article: FERGANA VALLEY AND NORTHERN TAJIKISTAN factsanddetails.com ; FERGANA VALLEY factsanddetails.com
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Last updated June 2026