An avalanche above the Shakhdara river.
The town of Khorog (2200m), is the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province (GBAO) in Tajikistan. It is situated in the Pamir Mountains (ancient Mount Imeon) at the confluence of the Gunt and Panj rivers.
The city is bounded to the south and to the north by the deltas of the Shakhdara and Gunt rivers, respectively. The two rivers merge in the eastern part of the city flow through the city, dividing it almost evenly until its delta in the river Panj, also being known as Amu Darya, or in antiquity the Oxus on the border with Afghanistan. Khorog is known for its beautiful poplar trees that dominate the flora of the city.
Khorog is one of the poorest areas of Tajikistan, with the charitable organization Aga Khan Foundation providing almost the only source of cash income. Most of its inhabitants are Ismaili Muslims.
Tajikistan, a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and People's Republic of China to the east. Tajikistan also lies adjacent to Pakistan separated by the narrow Wakhan Corridor.
Tajikistan became a republic of the Soviet Union in the 20th century, known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic.
It was the first of the Central Asian republic to gain independence in December 1991.