Murghab, Tajikistan
Encyclopedia
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. It is the highest town in Tajikistan
(and of the former Soviet Union
) at 3,650m above sea level. It located at the junction of the Murghab River and the Pamir Highway
.
The Pamir Highway goes north to Sary-Tash
and on to Osh in Kyrgyzstan and southwest to the region's capital Khorog
(about 300 kilometers distant). A newer road goes east over the Kulma Pass
to the Karakoram Highway
in China connecting to Tashkurgan
to the south and Kashgar
in the north. When the new road opened in May 2004, only Chinese and Tajik nationals were allowed to cross the Tajik–Chinese border at that point; the status of the border crossing in 2010 remains the same and according to locals in near future no plans are to open Kulma for other nationals.
Murghab's location at the hub of these roads makes it a regional center for trade, reputedly including a significant trade in illicit drug
s.
into Central Asia
.
The modern town was constructed during the period of Soviet
rule of Tajikistan as a rest stop along the Pamir Highway
. The population is about half Pamiri
and half Kyrgyz.
Murghab is expected to become a major center for trade between Xinjiang and central Asia.
Murghob district
For the one in Afghanistan, see Murghab District.Murghob District or Nohiya-i Murghob is a district in Tajikistan, occupying the eastern two-thirds of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province . It borders on Afghanistan to the south, China's Xinjiang region to the east, and Kyrgyzstan to the north...
in 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...
of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, 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....
. With a population 4,000, Murghab is about the only significant town the eastern half of Gorno-Badakhshan. It is the highest town in 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....
(and of the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
) at 3,650m above sea level. It located at the junction of the Murghab River and the Pamir Highway
Pamir Highway
The M41, known informally and more commonly as the Pamir Highway is a road traversing the Pamir Mountains through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia...
.
The Pamir Highway goes north to Sary-Tash
Sary-Tash
Sary-Tash is a minor village and major crossroads in the Alay Valley of Osh Province, Kyrgyzstan. Nearby towns and villages to the north include Akbosaga , Shumkar and Chagyr ....
and on to Osh in Kyrgyzstan and southwest to the region's capital Khorog
Khorog
The town of Khorugh , also transliterated as Khoroq, Khorogh, Khorog, or Xoroq) is the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan. It is also the capital of the Shughnon District of Gorno-Badakhshan. It has a population of 28,000...
(about 300 kilometers distant). A newer road goes east over the Kulma Pass
Kulma Pass
The Kulma Pass is a mountain pass across the Pamir Mountains on the border between the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China...
to the Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway is the highest paved international road in the world, but at its peak at the China-Pakistan border it is only paved on the Chinese side. It connects China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of as confirmed by both...
in China connecting to Tashkurgan
Tashkurgan
- Karakoram Highway :Today Tashkurgan is on the Karakoram Highway which follows the old Silk Road route from China to Pakistan. Accommodation is available and it is a recommended overnight stop for road travellers from China to Pakistan in order to have the best chance of crossing the snow-prone...
to the south and Kashgar
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
in the north. When the new road opened in May 2004, only Chinese and Tajik nationals were allowed to cross the Tajik–Chinese border at that point; the status of the border crossing in 2010 remains the same and according to locals in near future no plans are to open Kulma for other nationals.
Murghab's location at the hub of these roads makes it a regional center for trade, reputedly including a significant trade in illicit drug
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
s.
Pamirsky Post
The place was founded by the Russians as 'Pamirsky Post' in 1893, as their most advanced military outpostOutpost (military)
An Outpost in military terminology essentially means a detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks; and the station...
into Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
.
The modern town was constructed during the period of Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule of Tajikistan as a rest stop along the Pamir Highway
Pamir Highway
The M41, known informally and more commonly as the Pamir Highway is a road traversing the Pamir Mountains through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia...
. The population is about half Pamiri
Pamiri people
Pamiri is the name of an Iranian ethnic group in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan.-Ethnic Identity:The Pamiris are composed of people who speak the Pamiri languages, the indigenous language in the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous province, and adhere to the Ismaili sect of Shia...
and half Kyrgyz.
Murghab is expected to become a major center for trade between Xinjiang and central Asia.