TAJIKISTAN

The capital of Tadjikistan is Dushanbe, a city of over 600000 people.

The official language is Tadjik (Farsi), a number of the group of Persian languages. Russian is widely spoken, and English is now being taught throughout the country.

Mountains occupy 93% of the territory and more than half of the country is located at an altitude of more than 3000 meters. The highest Central Asia's peaks including Pik Komunisma (7495 m), and Pik Lenina (7134 m) are there.

The unusual climatic range has fostered a rich flora and fauna. There are more than 5000 species of plants and flowers, while mammals include bear, fox, lynx, marten, snow leopard and wolf, many of them (including the Bukhara deer) indigenousn. The valleys of the rivers Vaksh and Pyandj are well - stocked with brushwood deer, and the Pamirs are the ancient home of the wild ram.

Tadjikistan has the geatest potential for expansion, however, perhaps lie in the country's very considerable mineral and energy resources. Tadjikistan is mining substantial amounts of gold, silver and non-ferrous metals, as well as high-valued non-metallic, gemstones and marble.
The country is justly renowned for precious and semi-precious stones, including Pamir lazurite, lapis lazuli, rubies, amethysts, spinels and many forms of ornamental quartz.
The hydropower station at Nurek, on the Vaksh river 80 km east of Dushanbe, is the largest in Central Asia and one of the largest in the world. The dam, 300 meters high, is among the highest in the world, holding some 10000 million cubic meters of water.
Tadjikistan can rightfully claim to be a four - fuel economy.

The largest industrial enterprise in the country (an annual capacity of 500000 tones of aluminum) is the huge aluminum smelter at Tursunzade.

While agriculture is centered around cotton, silk, fruit, nuts and vegetables, Tadjikistan is also a leading producer of geranium oil for use in perfumes, and famous for it's mineral water deposits, many of which remain relatively untapped.

The major proportion of light industry is given over to the production of garments and textiles, including cotton and silk, sewn and knitted wear, hosiery and shoes.

A wide range of porcelain goods is also produced.

The potential for tourism and leisure is excellent, and the Tadjiks are keen to share the natural beauty and contrasts of their country, and their rich and ancient culture, with holiday - makers and businessmen alike. Whether embarking on a cultural visit to Tadjikistan (and its neighboring cities of Samarkand and Bukhara), or trekking and mountaineering in the remote and unspoiled Pamirs, visitors will find much to enjoy.