Capital: Dushanbe

Language: Tajik

Currency: Tajik Somoni

With an area of 143100km², it is little more than twice the size of Bavaria, but has only about half as many inhabitants. Tajikistan’s neighbors to the west and north are Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and it borders China to the east.

Tajikistan’s mountainous terrain is ideal for adventurous trekkers, while the ancient Silk Road, which runs through some of the country’s most beautiful areas, offers a glimpse of more prosperous times.

The wildlife is similar to that of neighboring mountainous regions and states such as Kyrgyzstan. It includes mainly species adapted to high mountain life. Wild goats, ibex and wild sheep are widespread, among them the Altai and Pamir wild sheep, the largest wild sheep species on earth. In addition to various species of deer, the Tajik high mountains are home to brown bears, wolves and the Irbis or snow leopard. In the lower desert and semi-desert regions, goitered gazelles and rarely the highly endangered saiga antelope can be found.

Especially popular with nature lovers is the Fon Mountains with its inland lake Iskanderkul.