The Tajik National Park is situated at the convergence point of the highest mountain ranges in the Eurasian continent – the “Pamirs Plateau” in central part of more than 2.5 million hectares in eastern Tajikistan, which is mountainous and sparsely populated. It was designated as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2103.

The eastern part of the Tajik National Park is a plateau, while the western part consists of uneven mountain peaks (some of which are over 7000 meters high), with the outstanding feature of extreme seasonal temperature fluctuations. The longest mountain glacier outside the polar regions is among the 1085 glaciers documented in the area. Additionally, there are 170 rivers and over 400 lakes in the park. Rich vegetation of the Southwest Asian and Central Asian plant species thrives here, providing a sanctuary for rare and endangered bird and mammal species nationwide, including Marco Polo sheep, snow leopards, Siberian ibex, and more.

Largely unaffected by agricultural culture and permanent human habitation due to frequent strong earthquakes, the Tajik National Park offers a unique opportunity for the study of plate tectonics and subduction phenomena.

Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs)

Reasons to visit: One of the newest World Heritage Sites in 2013

Continent: Asia

Country/Region: Tajikistan

Province/State: Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province