GEOGRAPHY
At 36'40' northern latitude
and 41'14' eastern longitude, Tajikistan is nestled between Kyrgyzstan
and Uzbekistan to the north and west, China to the east, and Afghanistan
to the south. Tajikistan is home to some of the highest mountains
in the world, including the Pamir and Alay ranges. Ninety-three
percent of Tajikistan is mountainous with altitudes ranging from
1,000 feet to 27,000 feet, with nearly 50% of Tajikistan's territory
above 10,000 feet. Earthquakes are of varying degrees and are
frequent. The massive mountain ranges are cut by hundreds of canyons
and gorges at the bottom of which run streams which flow into
larger river valleys where the majority of the country's population
lives and works. The principal rivers of Central Asia, the Amu
Darya and the Syr Darya, both flow through Tajikistan, fed by
melting snow from mountains of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Flooding
and landslides sometimes occur during the annual Spring thaw.
Official
Name: Republic of Tajikistan
Area: 143,100 sq. km.
Capital: Dushanbe.
Terrain: Pamir and Alay mountains dominate
landscape; western Ferghana valley in north, Kofarnihon and
Vakhsh Valleys in southwest.
Climate: Mid-latitude continental, hot summers,
mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir mountains.
