The Perilous Beauty of Lake Sarez. Pamir, Tajikistan

Some natural landmarks are officially off-limits to the public. One such place is the mysterious and formidable Lake Sarez in Tajikistan. A permit from the Committee for Emergency Situations is required for a visit, though I cannot judge how strictly this rule is enforced—I personally haven't been there yet. But I very much wanted to tell the story of this unique and incredibly beautiful lake. To do so, I have gathered information and photographs from open sources. Its poetic name—"The Sleeping Dragon"—perfectly reflects its pristine beauty and hidden threat.

The Road of Ten Thousand Li: How the Great Silk Road Was Blazed

The Great Silk Road is not merely an ancient caravan route; it is a whole network of paths that for centuries connected countries and peoples. Its commercial and cultural significance was immense. And it did not emerge spontaneously, as it might seem at first glance — as if merchants simply traveled back and forth and the road somehow formed itself. That is not the case. The Great Silk Road was literally blazed, and it happened twice.

Chapter 7: The Roads of the Pamirs from Bear Metamorphoses

≪ to the previous chapter
After descending a bit lower, I found a cozy little clearing. It was warmer here. I decided to rest and figure out my route. I transformed, took out my phone to look at the maps, and saw—a missed call from Shams. I called him back immediately.

Chapter 6: The Curse of the Circle of Darkness from Bear Metamorphoses

≪ to the previous chapter
Judging by the tracks, the Englishman, possessed by the jondor, after crossing the ridge, didn't descend but turned west. The altitude here, by the way, was considerable. A snow-covered section ran along the ridge's edge. After passing it, he turned. His path ran below the snow line but was still high up. Given how fast he was moving, one could only marvel at the Englishman's physical conditioning, whose name, incidentally, I still hadn't bothered to learn. If he continued like this without changing direction, he would eventually come out to a section of the highway between Ishkashim and Khorog. That road also ran along the border. Surely he wasn't going back to Afghanistan? That would be too much!

The Sandal on the Pamir: A Legend of Bodhidharma

Who Was Bodhidharma? Bodhidharma was the first patriarch of the Chan Buddhist tradition (known in Japan as Zen). He is also called Damo, Daruma, and… the Bearded Barbarian. The last nickname came about naturally. Unlike the clean-shaven Chinese monks, he wore a beard. Moreover, according to legend, he came to preach his teaching in China from India. And the Chinese called all outsiders “barbarians” – hu. Hence “the Bearded Barbarian.”

The Pamir Mountains: The Origin of the Name and Other Interesting Facts

The Pamir mountain system forms a unique planetary junction, where the spurs of Asia's greatest ranges—the Hindu Kush, Tien Shan, Karakoram, and Kunlun—converge. This grand uplift of the Earth's crust neighbors deep depressions, such as the Tarim (Kashgar) Basin. The Pamir is located at the crossroads of several nations: Tajikistan, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. However, its central, highest part, containing the main peaks, lies within the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Fedchenko Glacier: A River of Ice in the Pamirs, in the Heart of the Mountains of Tajikistan

In the northwestern part of the Murghab region, where the Pamir Mountains meet the sky, the peaks of the Yazgulem Range — Peak of the Paris Commune, Peak of the 26 Baku Commissars, and Independence Peak — form a magnificent glacial cirque. It is here, at an altitude of 6,280 meters, that the world’s longest glacier outside the polar regions begins its journey: The Fedchenko Glacier.

Peak Ismoili Somoni (Communism Peak), Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan

The highest point of Tajikistan is Peak Ismoili Somoni, rising 7,495 meters above sea level. It is the highest peak in Central Asia and throughout the entire territory of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Among the world's highest peaks, it ranks fiftieth.

For climbers from the CIS and around the world, Peak Ismoili Somoni is a landmark summit. Many consider it their duty to climb it. More than thirty routes lead to the summit. Some of them are recognized as the most challenging in the world. Their distinctive features are unique technical parameters: a colossal altitude difference of about 2,500 meters and a steepness exceeding fifty percent.