Description to topographic map set Pamir

Topographic map set Pamir has now a short reference article. In this article one will find detailed description of location and division of Pamir Mountains. Also one will get to know what rivers, lakes and glaciers are situated in Pamir. Besides one will find information about what natural and cultural sights are popular among tourists in Pamir and what natural preserves are located in this region. Especially for tourists there are descriptions of popular kinds of tourism and places for active rest in Pamir. Apart from this the article contains a detailed description of climate in Pamir.

The Pamirs is a mountain system in the southern part of Central Asia, on the territory of Tajikistan (Gorno-Badakhshansk Autonomous Region), Kyrgyzstan, China and Afganistan. Pamir lies at the junction of the spurs of other powerful mountain systems, such as Hindu Kush, Kun Lun and Tien Shan. Pamirs is translated from the Farsi "the roof of the world" (pa-mi-ihr).

Traditionally, the Pamir region is divided into five regions: North-Western, North-Eastern, South-Western, Central and Eastern. The North-Western region of Pamir includes the Peter the Great, Darvaz, Vanch and Yazgulem ranges up to the intersecting Akademiya Nauk Ranges. The North-Eastern Pamirs include both the eastern part of the Zaalai range and the Zulumart Range up to the Zulumart Pass. The Central Pamirs include the Akademiya Nauk  Range, the Tanymas Range and the mountains of the southern group of the Fedchenko glacier, the eastern part of the Yazgulem Range. The Eastern Pamirs include the Muzkol, Pshart and North-Alichur Ranges. The South-Western Pamirs include the Rushan, Shugnan, Ishkashim, Shakhdarin and Southern Alichur Ranges.

Almost all the Pamir rivers are part of the Amudarya basin. Pyandj is the largest river of the Pamir region. Karakul, the largest lake of Pamir, lies in a tectonic depression and it has no drain, which accounts for its high salinity.

The Pamirs is traditionally popular for tourists and high-altitude rock climbers. There are two peaks higher than 7,000 m here: the peak Ismael Samani (peak Communism), 7,495 m, and the peak Evgeniya Korzhenevskaya, 7,105 m.

There are over 20 ascent routes, from the easiest to the most complex, to Ishmael Samani. The route from the Moskvin woods clearing along the Borodkin ridge is considered the classical ascent route. Downhhill skiing is also very popular here.

Another well-known tourist base is Altyn Mazar (Golden Sanctuary), situated at an altitude of 2,800 m on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. North of this area lies the well-known Pamir-Alai valley. To the south, the highest mountain peaks of the Pamirs are situated, such as Peak Ismael Samani, Peak Korzhenevskaya, the picturesque spots in the Djirgital and the Fedchenko glaciers. To the east, there is Peak Lenin (7,134 m).

The Pamir region also offers popular jeep tours along the famous Pamir Road.  The Pamir Road starts from the town of Osh in the Fergana valley, it crosses the Alai valley, runs through the Pamir Range to the south up to the Pyandj River and it extends to the north and then to the west towards the city of Dushanbe. The Pamir Road branches into a number of local highways which run through the valleys of such rivers as the Shakhdara, the Bartang, the Yazgul, the Vanch and the Obikhingou. There is a branch road near Lake Karakul, which leads to the valleys of the Kokuibel and Tanymas Rivers.