TAJIKISTAN

Ninety-three percent of Tajikistan's territory is mountainous, and the mountain glaciers are the source of its rivers. Tajikistan is an earthquake-prone area. The republic is bounded by China in the east, Afghanistan to the south, and Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to the west and north. The central Asian republic also includes the Gorno-Badakh Shan Autonomous region. Tajikistan is slightly larger than the state of Illinois.

Location

Central Asia, west of China.

Geography

Landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR .

Capital

Dushanbe

Population

7,320,815

Climate

Mid latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains.

Language

Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Monetary Unit

Somoni

Largest Cities

Dushanbe, Khujand, Kulob, Istaravshan, Konibodom, Kofarnihon, Tursunzoda, Isfara, Panjakent, Hisor

Principal rivers

Syrdarja, Amudarja

Places to Visit

Abdan, Abdu, Abdulay, Abdusamat, Adrasmon, Afandi, Aflotuk

Air Ports

Dushanbe Airport, Khudzhand Airport, Gissar Airport