Pamir-Alai is a mountain system located in Central Asia, in its southeastern part. The former republics of the Soviet Union - Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - these are the locations of this mountain system.
On the territory of one of these countries, namely Tajikistan, there are the Fann Mountains, which are part of the Pamir-Alai mountain system.
Some data
They are located in the area of Zerpovshansky (“Giving gold”, there are many gold mines here and now) and the Gissar ranges. The Fann Mountains were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. The reason is the amazing beauty of snow-capped peaks, including seven “five-thousanders”, many unique lakes and natural phenomena.
These mountains are the Mecca of climbers and climbers. There is an amazing variety of routes of varying difficulty. In any article about them, the fact is noted that the mountains described by Yuri Vizbor are sung. This is in the song that he wanders heartless across the plains, because the Fan Mountains took his heart from him.
Five-thousanders
The border of this fabulous country is alreadythe ridges mentioned above surrounding it: from the south - Gissar, from the north - Zeravshan. The Fan-Darya River is the eastern border, Archimaidan carries its waters from the west. The pride of the region is mountains exceeding five kilometers in height. The highest is Chimtarga, reaching 5489 meters. Further in descending order of height are Bodhona, reaching 5132 m, the mountains Big and Small Gonza with a height of 5306 and 5031 meters, respectively. They are followed by the peaks of Mirali (5132 m), Energia (5120), Zamok (5070) and Chapdara (5050).
Natural Phenomenon
Speaking of this unique mountainous country, it is impossible not to mention minerals. The largest Fan-Yagnob coal deposit, little developed due to inaccessibility, is located here. But it has been known primarily for thousands of years for its underground coal fire, described by Pliny the Elder, who lived in the first century AD.
Gold mines were mentioned above. This is an amazing, amazing mountain country with its unusual beauty, rightly considered the pearl of Tajikistan. It is located just 120 kilometers from another legendary place, the city of Samarkand, from where most tourist routes begin.
God-given attractions
A special place is occupied by the lakes of the Fann Mountains. They are a scattering (up to 40 in total) of the most beautiful reservoirs, the color of which varies from pale turquoise to emerald green and even purple.
They are framed by peaks covered with snow, andmountain slopes covered with juniper forests. The inhabitants of these places call archa all kinds of coniferous trees and juniper bushes, of which 21 out of 60 species existing in nature are found in these places. A feature of these massifs is that they are located in the Fann Mountains at an altitude of 2200-3200 meters above sea level.
Origin of lakes
Such a cluster of completely different reservoirs in a relatively small place is unique. Located at different heights, small and large, deep and shallow, covered with legends and hidden in inaccessible gorges, they are the main we alth of the mountainous country, whose name is the Fann Mountains. The map attached above shows how bizarrely two huge mountain ranges intersect, how beautiful lakes are scattered throughout the region, which were formed in moraines resulting from centuries of melting and sliding of glaciers, and in mountain glacial cirques. Kar, or armchair, or circus is a natural cup-shaped depression, located most often in the top part of the mountain.
Fairy tale lakes
The vast majority of mountain reservoirs were formed as a result of landslides and rock falls that blocked the path of mountain rivers. There are dozens of lakes, as mentioned above, among them there are very beautiful and especially visited, which are popular. These are Kulikalon and Alaudin, Chapdara and Mutnoe, Piala and Iskanderkul (the largest in the entire Pamir-Alai), Big Allo (or “Solitary”, which is the youngest in the Zindon gorge, formed in 1916) and Zierat, Chukurak and Marguzorlakes.
Most popular
Fan Mountains are famous for their multi-colored reservoirs, each of which can be talked about endlessly. Dozens of photos show how good they are. But there are special water pearls for these places, which the Fann Mountains are famous for. Alaudin lakes, located in the valley of the Chapdara river, are chosen by climbers. Here is the famous camp "Vertical-Alaudin", lying on the path of several routes. This place is remarkable for the rivers flowing out of the stones, and after some distance leaving in them, and the many lakes of the most different sizes and colors - from the largest to the size of a puddle.
The largest of all is Big Alaudinskoye Lake. The second largest is the more secluded, lying somewhat away from the climbing paths, "Vostochnoye". A river flows out of the Big Lake, which bifurcates a little later and flows into the Middle Lake with one arm, and the Lower Lake with the other. The water in all of them is crystal clear. It should be noted that there are no fish in these lakes.
The “sporty” part of the mountains
There are quite a few places in these mountains where no climber has set foot. But the vast part, bounded from the west by the Marguzor lakes, from the east by the Dushanbe-Samarkand road, from the north by the level of the Kulikalon-Alaudin lakes and from the south by the legendary lake Iskanderkul, is, so to speak, habitable and sporty. True, after the collapse of the Union, some alpine camps, such as Varzob, for example, ceased to exist, and there was no breakthrough in attracting tourists.observed. But the Fann Mountains are still attractive. Hiking and sightseeing tours are carried out systematically, since the climate here is warm at any time of the year.
The beaten path
Trekking, or hiking, is very popular in these places. Traditional tours, of which there are dozens, are described in detail in wide access. The number of people in the group, directions, equipment, the time for which this route is calculated - you can decide on everything without leaving your home. And on the spot already add "unforeseen". As mentioned above, Samarkand initially serves as the starting point. If the beginning of the route is not there, then we love local transport to get to the border of Tajikistan, and there already, behind the barrier, transferring to Tajik vehicles, tourists get to the Pejikent point with a large market focused on the arriving conquerors of the Fann Mountains.
