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Brian McMorrow | profile | all galleries >> Asia >> Tajikistan >> Qala Rakm & Pamir/Wakhan Confluence tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Qala Rakm & Pamir/Wakhan Confluence

Ruins of unknown age near the Ratm Fortress, Tajikistan
Ruins of unknown age near the Ratm Fortress, Tajikistan
The first close up view of agriculture in the Wakhan
The first close up view of agriculture in the Wakhan
Rahozon Zom  (6535m/21,440 ft ), a summit of the Hindu Kush on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Rahozon Zom (6535m/21,440 ft ), a summit of the Hindu Kush on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan
The Wakhan has quite a few signs like this pointing out places of interest my impatient driver would have preferred to blaze by
The Wakhan has quite a few signs like this pointing out places of interest my impatient driver would have preferred to blaze by
Me, I love castles, and with the beautiful weather and just a few km to our destination, I made him stop
Me, I love castles, and with the beautiful weather and just a few km to our destination, I made him stop
The village of Ratm, much of which is mere ruins
The village of Ratm, much of which is mere ruins
It didn't take long for a boy to materialize to show me the way to Ratm Fortress
It didn't take long for a boy to materialize to show me the way to Ratm Fortress
Looking from Ratm across to Afghanistan
Looking from Ratm across to Afghanistan
Strategic Ratm protects the northern approach to the Wakhan Valley through the Pamir Valley
Strategic Ratm protects the northern approach to the Wakhan Valley through the Pamir Valley
It's early autumn and this field has been harvested already
It's early autumn and this field has been harvested already
My young local guide leads me along the edge of the fields to the fortress
My young local guide leads me along the edge of the fields to the fortress
The ruins of Ratm Fortress
The ruins of Ratm Fortress
Rate apparently means First Line of Defense in Persian
Rate apparently means First Line of Defense in Persian
The rugged and barren mountains of Afghanistan
The rugged and barren mountains of Afghanistan
The Wakhan is surprisingly developed for tourists with these carved stones in Russian and English
The Wakhan is surprisingly developed for tourists with these carved stones in Russian and English
History of Ratm Fortress in English
History of Ratm Fortress in English
Testament to the ancientness of this region, the fortress was founded in the 3rd C. BC
Testament to the ancientness of this region, the fortress was founded in the 3rd C. BC
While the people of Murghab are distinctly Mongoloid, we crossed a line as we reached the Wakhan where the people are white
While the people of Murghab are distinctly Mongoloid, we crossed a line as we reached the Wakhan where the people are white
The site of Ratm Fortress
The site of Ratm Fortress
Ratm Fortress, on the edge of the Pamir Canyon
Ratm Fortress, on the edge of the Pamir Canyon
With the history tablet quoting 3rd C. BC, I have to wonder how many times this place has been rebuilt
With the history tablet quoting 3rd C. BC, I have to wonder how many times this place has been rebuilt
Ratm Fortress, the First Line of Defense to the East, was built by the Kushan Empire which ruled much of Afghanistan at the time
Ratm Fortress, the First Line of Defense to the East, was built by the Kushan Empire which ruled much of Afghanistan at the time
Ratm Fortress and the mountains of Afghanistan
Ratm Fortress and the mountains of Afghanistan
The Pamir River confined to its canyon below Ratm
The Pamir River confined to its canyon below Ratm
Tajikistan meets Afghanistan, the Pamir River
Tajikistan meets Afghanistan, the Pamir River
Ratm Fortress, guarding the southern end of the Pamir Valley before it reaches the fertile Wakhan
Ratm Fortress, guarding the southern end of the Pamir Valley before it reaches the fertile Wakhan
A near Oasis below Ratm Fortress
A near Oasis below Ratm Fortress
Finally, a house that looks definitely lived in
Finally, a house that looks definitely lived in
Steven explores Ratm Fortress
Steven explores Ratm Fortress
Qala, the Tajik word for Fortress, is similar to the Arabic and Persian and even Hindi words for the same thing
Qala, the Tajik word for Fortress, is similar to the Arabic and Persian and even Hindi words for the same thing
Ruins of the ancient Ratm Fortress, Tajikistan
Ruins of the ancient Ratm Fortress, Tajikistan
The fortress ruins at Ratm blend into the surrounding landscape
The fortress ruins at Ratm blend into the surrounding landscape
Might this be the watchtower of Ratm advertised on the sign?
Might this be the watchtower of Ratm advertised on the sign?
Ruins of Ratm Fortress, Tajikistan
Ruins of Ratm Fortress, Tajikistan
It does look like a good place for a fortress
It does look like a good place for a fortress
The canyon of the Pamir River below Ratm Fortress
The canyon of the Pamir River below Ratm Fortress
A farm house and plowed fields near Ratm
A farm house and plowed fields near Ratm
Ratm, Tajikistan, with the Afghan mountains across the river
Ratm, Tajikistan, with the Afghan mountains across the river
That needle must have a name. It's in the Wakhan Corridor east of the Pamir River
That needle must have a name. It's in the Wakhan Corridor east of the Pamir River
Cows in heaven, green grass
Cows in heaven, green grass
Dusty volleyball court among what looks like mostly ruins, Ratm village
Dusty volleyball court among what looks like mostly ruins, Ratm village
I wonder if that's where my guide boy lives, Ratm village
I wonder if that's where my guide boy lives, Ratm village
Much to the relief of my impatient driver, we're back on the road headed to our night stop at Langar
Much to the relief of my impatient driver, we're back on the road headed to our night stop at Langar
The first bridge across the Pamir River, a border crossing point linking Tajikistan with Afghanistan
The first bridge across the Pamir River, a border crossing point linking Tajikistan with Afghanistan
The delta of the Pamir River as it enters the Wakhan Valley
The "delta" of the Pamir River as it enters the Wakhan Valley
This bridge to Afghanistan across the Pamir River is just a few km north of Langar
This bridge to Afghanistan across the Pamir River is just a few km north of Langar
Ruins on the Afghan side of the Pamir River
Ruins on the Afghan side of the Pamir River
Civilization, a farm with a Lada 4x4 and a satellite dish, Tajikistan
Civilization, a farm with a Lada 4x4 and a satellite dish, Tajikistan
The Pamir River delta
The Pamir River "delta"
I really wanted to at least set foot in Afghanistan on this trip since we followed the Tajik-Afghan border for 4 days - no luck
I really wanted to at least set foot in Afghanistan on this trip since we followed the Tajik-Afghan border for 4 days - no luck
I'm sure a more keen driver/guide would have gotten me at least a footstep into Afghanistan
I'm sure a more keen driver/guide would have gotten me at least a footstep into Afghanistan
The Pamir River forms a wide valley as it meets the larger Wakhan to form the Panj River
The Pamir River forms a wide valley as it meets the larger Wakhan to form the Panj River
A last look back at what has been an amazing drive following the Pamir River
A last look back at what has been an amazing drive following the Pamir River
That could almost be a little runway, just watch for the livestock
That could almost be a little runway, just watch for the livestock
The Pamir River meets the Wakhan Valley
The Pamir River meets the Wakhan Valley
A rather new looking construction, coming or going....
A rather new looking construction, coming or going....