Tadjikistan

Republic Tadjikistan (143.100 km) is located in the southeastern part of Central Asia. The country borders on with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. In 1991 Tajikistan declared about its independence.

Capital - Dushanbe.

Official language - Tajik. Other important languages of communication are - Russian, as the language of international policy and economy, and Uzbek.

Religion. About 90% Tajiks are the adherents of Islam.

Climate. Tajikistan is located in the dry subtropical zone. Climate is sharply continental with the cold winter and the hot summer.
The population of the country (about 7, 1 mln.) consists of the representatives of many nationalities and national characters: Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kirghizs, Russians, Tatars, Germans and others.

Nature. Tajikistan - alpine country, more than 70 % territory occupy mountains. In the east the countries are located Pamir mountains. Highest mountain of the country is the peak of Ismoil Samoni (7.495m). On the north of the country stretches the mountain range Alai. Only on the extreme north of Tajikistan there is the lowland, which waters by the great river of the country of Sirdarya (about 2.200km length). The largest lake Kara-Kum (380km.) is located in the east of the country. Other large lakes are Sarez (80km.) and Zorkul Lake.

Dushanbe - the beautiful city of central Asia.

Dushanbe - the capital of Tajikistan. Name is very original: Dushanbe indicates “Monday”. Thus was called the village, in which each week there were hold market on Mondays. Dushanbe is located in the fertile valley Gissar on the coasts of the mountain little river of Dushanbinka.  Behind the city are raised the spurs of the Gissar Mountains, which apexes reach 4.000 - 4.500 m.
City counts 627.900 inhabitants. These are the political, cultural and economic center of the country, city- university. In Dushanbe are situated Tajik State University and the Academy of Sciences.
In Dushanbe there are no historical monuments. The majority of buildings have history no longer than of 50- 60 years. There are in the city also the contemporary buildings, which is worthwhile to look: Academy of Sciences and opera house. Concerning opera and ballet, Dushanbe presents the program of large city. 50 km from the city is located the picturesque gorge Romit, which is very popular among the travellers.
Greatly impresses the 30 meter height monument of Ismoil Somoni.
In the Tajik national museum is represented extensive collection that indicates about the rich history of the country. Among them 14 meter high Buddha's statue, found in 1966 on the south of the country, and which is since 2001 displayed in the acting exposure. Statue is considered as the largest image of Buddha in central Asia.

Khujant – Distant Alexandria.

 
Khujant - second largest city in Tajikistan. Up to 1939year city was called Khojent and from 1939 till 1992 named Leninabad. Ancient name of the city was Alexandria Eschate (“distant Alexandria”). Khujant is located in the Fergana valley, on the banks of Sirdarya River, count 145.000 inhabitants.

Pendzikent – Pompei of Central Asia.

Pendzhikent (25 thousand inhabitants) is located 70 km from the East of Samarkand in the valley of the river of Zerafshan - new settlement (since 1953 city) in the northwest of old sogdian Pendzhikent, which in 8th century was destroyed and abandoned.
The historical museum of Rudaki was opened in 1958 and named after the great founder of Tajik- Persian literature - Abu Abdullah Dzhafar Rudaki, who was born in one of the settlements not far from Pendzhikent.
The visit of this museum gives the imagination about the animal and plant world of Zerafshan valley, and also about the development of new city.