Yapshorv village, near lake Sarez.
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.