problem – high cost. Well, you know, if probably you want to see Tajikistan – you can’t see this country without mountains, and for example, the highest point in the Pamir Mountains is Ismail Somoni Peak, height 7495 m, it is, of course, a very high peak, but there are another two peaks in these mountains which are higher than 7000 m. So, if you would like to know, the highest mountain in the world, of course, is Mount Everest in Himalaya Mountains. So, if I write and get it right, the height of this mountain amounts to 8 thousand and some hundreds meters, and, of course, Tajikistan mountains are also very high, maybe also they are looking quite similar to Himalaya Mountains. I only wanted to disclose these facts about Tajikistan which have no sea or ocean borders; this is very mountainous country, and this, of course, gives their nation and people who live in mountain areas some style and occupation characteristic to mentality of mountain nations and their occupation. Also in that moment when I have not lost the idea of what I need to write about; well, the highest peak is Ismail Somoni Peak, height 7495 m, situated near the Kyrgyz border, on the north of the Tajikistan Republic. It may be very interesting to imagine, how is to live in this area, in such deep mountain areas where life can be very hard, and some small underpopulated settlements are so isolated that they have few relationships with other cities or villages, for example, situated nearby, and with Dushanbe city. But the population of Tajikistan is growing each year at a quick rate, so, it may be the third biggest nation after Kazakh and Uzbek nation. Yes, you know, I really want to see how the life in these small settlements in high mountains is going on, in the Pamir Mountains, in the Tajikistan Republic. Of course, it may be interesting to watch this people and just to understand the life of Tajik nation and people. Of course, I think, that differences certainly would be very big, if, for example, you come from a Christian country, but the spirit and feelings of that life which, of course, originates from Sunni Islam Religion, some Eastern cultures and mountain lifestyle, of course, will give you some new and maybe understanding feelings; just try to look at this amazing country from the other side, and, of course, from the best side. What can the East, Muslim Religion and mountains give you, which are so high and so beautiful to watch them, if you, probably, have a residence place or home near these high mountains. So, it can be warm in summer and so cold in winter, due to that it may be very problematic to live here during this season, when so many houses maybe have only a few batteries, and you understand it. It need not be very cold at home, in these places near the Great Mountains, near the Pamir Mountains. Maybe that’s because older people are living in these small villages, because young people try to move into some biggest Tajikistan cities, not always to the capital – Dushanbe, but to other administrative centres of Tajikistan- Khorugh, for example. But how great it is to see yourself, being young, and just no trying to move to another place, because maybe this place, likely not so idyllic, maybe not so populated – is your place where you can feel yourself really happy in that place, because it is to wonderful to see and feel your life only in some very far places, very far from the biggest cities. Maybe, one only can dream about that, because it is very great not to feel any urge or wish to go somewhere, I think, that it would be great, if you understand, if you want to go somewhere, to go to some place, you can’t find any destination or another live, because that how you feel yourself and life, is quite the same in all other places, maybe, just with a little difference. That’s why I only want to feel safe in my heart and soul only few countries and places which can be idyllic to my feelings and to me. That’s why I love Tajikistan with all my heart.
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Maybe stones can tell you something? Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but stones often can be seen near some rivers and lakes in Pamir Mountains, of course, in Tajikistan. Of course, there may be many stones and stones standing across coastlines of rivers, of course, mountains form a natural symbolic part of Tajikistan country. Well, I write in order to remind some facts; what is highest point in Tajikistan Pamir Mountains. Well, I think, it is higher than 7000 meters, now known as Ismail Somoni Peak. Oh, yes, maybe, I need to write just a few words about the longest border what the Tajikistan Republic has, and it is, of course, the border with Afghanistan, it may be quite interesting to find out how safe that border with Afghanistan is, because in past, in 90-ties it was certainly unsafe, and hard times then were not only for the neighbouring country – Afghanistan, but for Tajikistan, too. It is really hard to see what exactly these places were near that country, I mean, near Afghanistan. Also, of course, there were some military conflicts with that country, and some Afghan military groups and forces often used to cross the Tajik border, and tried to set up their political power in this republic, perhaps now it is no so important, since also in Afghanistan somewhat stable situation is established now, and it is quite believable for Tajikistan after 1998 that situation in the Republic starts to stabilize, this process has lasted for long time, and perhaps now life in this country is not such as it was ten years ago, and, of course, the situation is improving…
Maybe, the hardest time for the Tajikistan Republic was in early and mid-90-ties?
12 MAY 2015, TUESDAY
Well, thinking about something nice and beautiful, as feelings are not so in harmony, but perhaps today I need to write about Tajikistan lakes which occupy about 2% of area of the Republic. It may be also worth to write about one of the largest lakes in Tajikistan country, and it is Iskanderkul which is located in Fan Mountains of Tajikistan. The area of this lake is about 3.4 square km, and it is about 42 metres deep. One need to understand that this lake is situated about 134 km from the capital of the Republic- Dushanbe. So, Tajikistan certainly is very famous for its lakes, and so many lakes are also situated in mountain areas. Well, another large lake in Tajikistan is the lake Karakul with surface area of about 380 km2, and depth is about 230 m. It is located in the Pamir Mountains. But you know, looking often at some pictures with views of that lake one can tell that area around that Karakul lake is no so high, and mountains are no so high, too. Well, to my opinion, lakes, of course, occupy quite a big part of Tajikistan territory, also in mountains. But watching and reading for the first time about lakes and rivers which are so numerous in the Tajikistan Republic, one can say that water in these places is so cold and very fresh, as it must be in mountain areas. The nature of this Republic is very beautiful and amazing, with mountains and so many lakes and mountain rivers, and there are also forests growing; and, perhaps, you will be surprised, but in Tajikistan you can see also pine trees which grow not only in mountain areas, but also in the western part of this country… It may be worth to write some words else about one of the most symbolic nature places in Tajikistan, and it is Khorugh National Botanical Garden which have got, of course, quite a big collection of many exotic flowers and plants. From information one can obtain that it is the second Botanical Garden situated near or, to tell the truth, in a high mountain area, following after Botanical Garden in Nepal which is situated in Himalaya mountains. As I remember rightly, there was also written that this Khorugh Botanical Garden has established many relationships with different other largest Botanical Gardens in the world, and often does scientific works. But you know, probably, if you want to know about the Tajikistan area – it amounts to about 143 100 km2, it can be said that this is not a very big country, and maybe that’s the reason why this Republic has not so many administrative divisions, and there are only four of them, so probably, the largest administrative province, or as it is officially referred to in Tajikistan – vilayat – is Gorno – Badakshan Autonomous Province which occupies the biggest part of the Tajikistan Republic area and is situated in the eastern part of the country near China and Afghanistan. Then, another province – is Sughd Region. So, Sughd Region is situated in the northern Tajikistan and is bordering with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and its area amounts to 25 400 km2. So, population of this region is about 2 million people, according to information of 2008. The capital of Sughd Region is Khujand town, and population of this city is about 155 thousand residents. This city is located near Kyrgyzstan border. Well, as regards Khujand, maybe it’s not true, but I really want to believe that this city is very beautiful, also with a view of mountains; and it could be so wonderful to see sun shining very hot in summer season, that’s why some homes, streets and buildings are looking