Little Pamir
Encyclopedia
The Little Pamir is a broad U-shaped
grassy valley
or pamir in the eastern part of the Wakhan
in north-eastern Afghanistan
. The valley is 100 km long and 10km wide,, and is bounded to the north by the Nicholas Range
, a subrange of the Pamir Mountains
.
Chaqmaqtin Lake (9 km by 2 km) lies towards the western end of the valley while the Tegerman Su valley lies at its the eastern most end. The Aksu or Murghab River flows east from the lake through the Little Pamir to enter Tajikistan
at the eastern end of the valley. The Bozai Darya (also known as the Little Pamir River) rises a short distance west of the lake, and flows 15 km west to join the Wakhjir River and form the Wakhan River near the settlement of Bozai Gumbaz.
The Little Pamir is used by semi-nomadic Kyrgyz herders for summer pasture. In 1978 almost all the inhabitants fled to Pakistan
in the aftermath of the Saur Revolution
. Many of the Kyrgyz subsequently migrated to Turkey
, but in October 1979, following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, a group of about 200 Kyrgyz returned to the Little Pamir. In 2003 there were 140 yurt households.
The valley supports populations of Marco Polo sheep
, ibex
, and other wild animals. The naturalist George Schaller
has advocated the creation of an international peace park
to protect the wildlife in the area.
The Little Pamir is accessed by trails from the roadhead at Sarhad-e Broghil, about 5 days walk away. A rough road also leads to the Little Pamir from Murghab
in Tajikistan, and was the route by which the Soviets occupied the eastern part of Wakhan. The border is now closed. In 2000 the road was used to deliver humanitarian aid to the Kyrgyz of the Little Pamir, and in 2003 a trade fair was held at the border for a few hours.
U-shaped valley
A U-shaped valley also known as a glacial trough is one formed by the process of glaciation. It has a characteristic U-shape, with steep, straight sides, and a flat bottom. Glaciated valleys are formed when a glacier travels across and down a slope, carving the valley by the action of scouring...
grassy valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
or pamir in the eastern part of the Wakhan
Wakhan
Wakhan or "the Wakhan" is a very mountainous and rugged part of the Pamir and Karakoram regions of Afghanistan. Wakhan District is a district in Badakshan Province.-Geography:...
in north-eastern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The valley is 100 km long and 10km wide,, and is bounded to the north by the Nicholas Range
Nicholas Range (Pamir Mountains)
The Nicholas Range , known locally as Selselehi-i Koh-i-Wakhan is a range of mountains in the Pamir Mountains on the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan that that crosses the Wakhan in Afghanistan. The range separates the Little Pamir and Great Pamir in the Wakhan...
, a subrange of the Pamir Mountains
Pamir Mountains
The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction or knot of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. They are among the world’s highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the "Roof of the World" a probable...
.
Chaqmaqtin Lake (9 km by 2 km) lies towards the western end of the valley while the Tegerman Su valley lies at its the eastern most end. The Aksu or Murghab River flows east from the lake through the Little Pamir to enter Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
at the eastern end of the valley. The Bozai Darya (also known as the Little Pamir River) rises a short distance west of the lake, and flows 15 km west to join the Wakhjir River and form the Wakhan River near the settlement of Bozai Gumbaz.
The Little Pamir is used by semi-nomadic Kyrgyz herders for summer pasture. In 1978 almost all the inhabitants fled to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in the aftermath of the Saur Revolution
Saur Revolution
The Saur Revolution is the name given to the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan takeover of political power from the government of Afghanistan on 28 April 1978. The word 'Saur', i.e...
. Many of the Kyrgyz subsequently migrated to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, but in October 1979, following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, a group of about 200 Kyrgyz returned to the Little Pamir. In 2003 there were 140 yurt households.
The valley supports populations of Marco Polo sheep
Marco Polo sheep
The Marco Polo sheep is a subspecies of argali sheep, named after Marco Polo. Their habitat is the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Marco Polo sheep are distinguishable mostly by their large size and spiraling horns. Their conservation status is "near threatened" and efforts have been made to...
, ibex
Siberian Ibex
The Siberian Ibex or Common ibex is a species of ibex that lives in central and northern Asia. It has traditionally been treated as a subspecies of the Alpine Ibex, and whether it is specifically distinct from other ibex is still not entirely clear...
, and other wild animals. The naturalist George Schaller
George Schaller
George Beals Schaller is an American mammalogist, naturalist, conservationist and author. Schaller is recognized by many as the world's preeminent field biologist, studying wildlife throughout Africa, Asia and South America. Born in Berlin, Schaller grew up in Germany, but moved to Missouri as a...
has advocated the creation of an international peace park
Peace Park
Peace Park may refer to:*Peace park, another name for a transboundary protected area*Santiphap Park, Bangkok, also known as Peace Park*Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a park in Hiroshima, Japan dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be nuclear bombed* Peace Park , a...
to protect the wildlife in the area.
The Little Pamir is accessed by trails from the roadhead at Sarhad-e Broghil, about 5 days walk away. A rough road also leads to the Little Pamir from Murghab
Murghab, Tajikistan
Murghab is the capital of Murghob District in the Pamir Mountains of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Tajikistan. With a population 4,000, Murghab is about the only significant town the eastern half of Gorno-Badakhshan...
in Tajikistan, and was the route by which the Soviets occupied the eastern part of Wakhan. The border is now closed. In 2000 the road was used to deliver humanitarian aid to the Kyrgyz of the Little Pamir, and in 2003 a trade fair was held at the border for a few hours.