Zarafshan Range
Zarafshan Range | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Peak | Chimtarga Peak |
Elevation | 5,489 m (18,009 ft) |
Coordinates | 39°20′N 69°40′E / 39.333°N 69.667°E |
Dimensions | |
Length | 230 mi (370 km) East–West |
Naming | |
Native name | |
Geography | |
Countries | Tajikistan and Uzbekistan |
Parent range | Pamir-Alay |
The Zarafshan Range (
The Persian name is believed to possibly be a reference to gold found in bed of the Zarafshan River and its tributaries, which has ushered prosperity to the region from ancient times.[2]
Geography and geology
The range extends over 370 kilometres (230 mi) in an east−west direction along the south of Sughd Region in Tajikistan, reaching the highest point of 5,489 metres (18,009 ft) (Chimtarga Peak) in its central part. South-west of Panjakent the range crosses from Tajikistan into Uzbekistan, where it continues at decreasing elevations (1,500–2,000 metres (4,900–6,600 ft)) along the internal border between Samarkand and Kashkadarya Regions provinces, until it blends into the desert south-west of Samarkand.[3]
There are two other mountain ranges running in an east−west direction parallel to the Zarafshan Range. To the north, the Zeravshan Valley runs east for approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi) from
The Zarafshan Range is crossed in the meridional direction by three rivers: the
The highest part of the range is located between the Fan Darya and the Kashtutu Darya and includes the Fann Mountains. The western part of the range is up to 3 kilometres (9,800 ft) and is forested.
There are several passes crossing the range, including Akhba-Tavastfin, Akhba-Bevut, Akhba-Guzun, Akhba-Surkltat, Darkh Pass, Minora, and Marda-Kishtigeh.[6] Various elevations include 3,550 metres (11,650 ft) at Kshtut Pass, 5,600 metres (18,400 ft) at Mount Chandara, and 4,600 metres (15,100 ft) at Mount Hazret Sultan.[6] Fan Darya makes a gorge going across the ridge. The road connecting Dushanbe and Khujand is built in the ridge.
The geological formations in the mountains of the upper Zarafshan Valley contain minerals such as coal, iron, gold alum and sulphur. Gold is reported from the entire course of the Fan Darya, Kashtutu Darya, and Maghian Darya.[6]
History
The slopes of the range have been populated since antiquity. Prehistoric
In 1862, the Russian Empire started to penetrate to Central Asia. By 1870, Russian troops occupied both the Zarafshan and the Yaghnob valleys, with the last operation being the
In 1868, Zarafshan Okrug was split from the Emirate of Bukhara. The Okrug was controlled by Russian authorities, but the authority at the local level remained with the beks. The whole Zarafshan Range was inside the okrug. On January 1, 1887 Samarkand Oblast was established, with the administrative center in Samarkand. In 1924, Samarkand Oblast was abolished and split between newly established Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic and Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, corresponding to the contemporary division between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Population
All valleys of the range are populated. There are no towns in the range; the closest towns are Panjakent and Samarkand. A major road between Dushanbe and Khujand crosses the range; another road to Samarkand follows the Zarafshan River. The roads into secondary valleys, including the Yaghnob valley, are mostly unpaved and poorly maintained.
Most of the population of the range are
Tourism
The Fann Mountains, and, to lesser extent, the Matcha Mountains are popular among mountaineers and hikers.[10]
See also
- List of mountains in Tajikistan
- List of mountains of Uzbekistan
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-65704-4.
- ^ Henry Lansdell (1885). Russian Central Asia: Including Kuldja, Bokhara, Khiva and Merv. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington. pp. 534–.
- ^ Atlas of the Soviet Republics of Central Asia, Moscow, 1988, in Russian.
- ISBN 978-1-78040-038-9.
- ^ a b Гиссаро-Алай (in Russian). A.S.T. Company. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) (1886). Supplementary Papers (Public domain ed.). J. Murray. pp. 213–.
- ^ Eugene Schuyler; Vasilīĭ Vasilʹevich Grigorʹev (1877). Turkistan: Notes of a Journey in Russian Turkistan, Khokand, Bukhara, and Kuldja. Scribner, Armstrong & Company. pp. 275–.
- ISBN 9780710050533.
- ^ Искандеркуль (in Russian). Tajikistan Development Gateway Team. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d Пагануцци, Н. В. (1968). Фанские горы и Ягноб (in Russian). Moscow: Fizkultura i sport.
- ^ Гвоздецкий, Н. А. (1953). Владимир Леонтьевич Комаров (in Russian). Moscow: Geografgiz.