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Afghanistan - Stranded on the roof of the world - Kyrgyz of the Pamir mountains

96 images Created 5 Oct 2011

High in the Pamir mountains of Afghanistan, a remnant group of less than 1000 Kyrgyz dwell in one of the remotest and inhospitable environments occupied by any human population. Deprived of the simplest infrastructure, schools or health care institutions and faced with an ever growing problem of opium addiction,this community shows the highest level of maternal and child mortality in the world. With eight months of winter the beauty of
the Afghan Pamir belies its ability to support life.
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  • Afgan_Pamir_08_Intro.jpg
  • Mountains near Sarhad, the first village coming down from the Little Pamir. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_501.jpg
  • Pir Shah Ismail is the spiritual leader of Wakhis in the Wakhan Corridor. He lives in Qala-e-Pinja. Visiting the ruins of the old fort.  .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_546.jpg
  • Women fetching water..Wakhis outside in Sarhad, the first village coming down from the Little Pamir. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_493.jpg
  • Wakhi men and women inside a typical Wakhi house, belonging to Qatch Baig. Light comes from an opening in the roof. Sarhad village..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_507.jpg
  • Ajar (sister). One family..Many Wakhis are blue eyed. Some say descendant of Alexander the Great..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_542.jpg
  • Old man called Fakir Mohammed..Groom's house. Wedding celebration of Dodé Khuda, at Safar Boi house, in Tchehel-Kand village..Wakhi wedding ceremonies usually takes place in the winter months. The Wakhi do most of their business with Afghan Kyrgyz..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_513.jpg
  • Buzkachi (central asian horse game) season starts in winter in Tajikistan, Dushanbe. En route to Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor.
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_002.jpg
  • At dusk, women coming back home carrying water. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_557.jpg
  • Portrait of the groom. In Imit (just past Khandut), wedding celebration of Tawakal Shoh with famous singer/dancer named Alowat..Wakhi wedding ceremonies only takes place in teh winter months. The Wakhi do most of their business with Afghan Kyrgyz..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_536.jpg
  • Invited party come by horse. Wedding celebration of Dodé Khuda, at Safar Boi house, in Tchehel-Kand village..Wakhi wedding ceremonies usually takes place in the winter months. The Wakhi do most of their business with Afghan Kyrgyz..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_522.jpg
  • Groom's house. In Imit (just past Khandut), wedding celebration of Tawakal Shoh with famous singer/dancer named Alowat..Wakhi wedding ceremonies only takes place in teh winter months. The Wakhi do most of their business with Afghan Kyrgyz..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_531.jpg
  • Groom's house. In Imit (just past Khandut), wedding celebration of Tawakal Shoh with famous singer/dancer named Alowat..Wakhi wedding ceremonies only takes place in teh winter months. The Wakhi do most of their business with Afghan Kyrgyz..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_538.jpg
  • Wakhi traveling on horse back through teh Wakhan Corridor, near Qala-e Pinja..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_554.jpg
  • Mohammad, Wakhi shepherd wearing traditional "Chapan"..Wakhi winter shepherds known as "Shpunds" in their settlement of Kher Metek, on the edge of the Little Pamir. They often look over Kyrgyz sheep and yak herds for payment in animals. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_467.jpg
  • Wakhi winter shepherds known as "Shpunds" arriving at their settlement of Kher Metek, on the edge of the Little Pamir. They often look over Kyrgyz sheep and yak herds for payment in animals. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_471.jpg
  • Detail of yak haor from the Afghan Pamir.
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_561.jpg
  • Young Wakhi with his father's suit for warmth..Wakhis outside in Sarhad, the first village coming down from the Little Pamir. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_498.jpg
  • Wakhis on their way to a wedding on horseback, below a 4000m mountain scree..Near Sarhad, the first village coming down from the Little Pamir. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_503.jpg
  • Trekking with Wakhi companion Malang down the frozen Wakhan River, the only way up and down to the Little Pamir..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_462.jpg
  • Assan Khan..Wakhi winter shepherds known as "Shpunds" in their settlement of Kher Metek, on the edge of the Little Pamir. They often look over Kyrgyz sheep and yak herds for payment in animals. .Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_479.jpg
  • Trekking with yak herder Mohammad and Malang down the frozen Wakhan River, the only way up and down to the Little Pamir..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_484.jpg
  • Mohammad stops to drink water. Trekking with yak herder Mohammad and Malang up the frozen Wakhan River, the only way up to the Little Pamir..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_034.jpg
  • Toj Mohammed (18 years old)..Family relatives of Pir Shah Ismail in Qala-e Pinja..Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_549.jpg
  • Trekking with yak herder Mohammad and Malang up the frozen Wakhan River, the only way up to the Little Pamir mountains, the extreme North-East of Afghanistan.<br />
Winter expedition through the Wakhan Corridor and into the Afghan Pamir mountains, to document the life of the Afghan Kyrgyz tribe. January/February 2008. Afghanistan
    99_Afghanistan_Wakhan_Pamir_08_053.jpg
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