CLIMATE AND GEOLOGY

The Zerafshan Valley is rich in minerals such as gold, antimony and coal. The gold fields are found around Penjikent, one of the companies mining here is the Zarafshon Joint Venture. The antimony meanwhile is found in Anzob and the coal near Ayni.

 

The climate in the Zerafshan Valley is semi-arid, this is due to the mountains to both the north and south preventing most moist air reaching the area. Rainfall follows an annual pattern with peaks in early winter and spring. From May to October, the weather is dry and calm, providing the valley with ideal conditions for trekking and mountaineering. Winters are usually relatively mild and bring high levels of snowfall. Between January and May, there is a high avalanche risk in the mountains. This can often lead to the closing of the roads north, to Khujand and south, to Dushanbe.

The area also has more than 40 glaciers, most of these are quite small but are often dramatically located above vertical cliffs. The longest is Zerafshan, the source of the river that lends its name to the region.