Tajikistan essentials

Tajikistan's landscape is defined by the high-altitude Pamir Mountains and the turquoise waters of Iskandarkul and Qarokul, an endorheic lake set in a massive impact crater. In Dushanbe, the capital's grand architecture is represented by the National Library and the world’s second-tallest flagpole. Historical sites span millennia, from the UNESCO-listed Neolithic settlement of Sarazm to the 12th-century Hisar Fortress and the 3rd-century BC Yamchun Fort overlooking the Wakhan Valley. The country also features Soviet-era landmarks like the Arbob Palace and the massive Nurek Dam.