Side canyon off the Wakhan Valley, Afghanistan, with the summit of Akher Tsagh, Pakistan in the distance |
Hindu Kush of the Afghan-Pakistan border with the summit of Akher Tsagh, Pakistan (7017m/23,021 ft) visible to the right |
The main road on the Tajikistan side of the Wakhan Valley leading though some shady trees east of Shitharv |
Barely 10 miles wide here, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan separates the former Russian and British Empires |
Hindu Kush - Kohe Urgunt (7016m/23,018ft), Afghanistan-Pakistan |
The Panj River forming the Tajik (and former USSR)f border with the Wakhan Valley of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan |
Wakhan Valley road, Tajikistan, along the Panj River |
Panj River, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan-Afghanistan |
Paved Wakhan Valley highway at Shitharv, Tajikistan |
Flag of the Republic of Tajikistan |
Shitharv, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Small rapids in the Panj River, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan-Afghanistan |
Hindu Kush - Kohe Shakhawr (7084m/23,241 ft), Afghanistan-Pakistan |
Hindu Kush - Kohe Shakhawr (7084m/23,241 ft), Afghanistan-Pakistan |
Hindu Kush, Afghanistan |
The village of Boibar, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Tajikistan side of the Wakhan Valley |
Looking across a wide sandy section of the Panj River to several Afghan peaks including Kohe Kesni Khan |
Hindu Kush - Kohe Keshni Khan (6755m/22,162ft), Afghanistan |
Peak 7.5km north of Kohe Keshni Khan (ca 18,900 ft), Afghanistan |
Wide section of the Panj River with sandy flats on the Afghanistan side |
Tajik road through the Wakhan Valley |
Scenic spot, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Interesting erosion, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Museum near the Qah-Qaha Fortress |
Cute house near Qah-Qaha Fortress |
Entrance to the ancient Qah-Qaha Fortress, N36 40 47/E071 45 27 |
Historic marker in English, Qah-Qaha Fortress, Tajikistan |
Historic marker in Tajik, Қалъаи Қаҳқаҳа |
Lonely Planet spells the fortress name as Khaakha |
Snowy peak overlooking the Qah-Qaha Fortress |
Paving stones in the ancient Qah-Qaha Fortress, Tajikistan |
The fortress has been reused again and again with this graffiti covered building looking relatively modern |
Panj River at the Qah-Qaha Fortress, Wakhan Valley |
Parts of the ancient fortress down near the river, Qah-Qaha |
The Qah-Qaha Fortress was first built in the 3rd C. BC by Zoroastrians |
Weather-worn Qah-Qaha Fortress at Namadgut, Tajikistan |
Melting walls of the ancient Qah-Qaha Fortress |
View of the fields in Afghanistan from the Qah-Qaha Fortress |
Crumbling walls of Qah-Qaha Fortress |
Remains of a round tower, Qah-Qaha Fortress |
Northern wall, Qah Qaha Fortress |
One of the more substantial mudbrick ruins, Qah Qaha |
Qah Qaha Fortress |
Qah Qaha Fortress, 3rd C. BC, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Qah Qaha Fortress |
Qah Qaha Fortress mud brick walls eroding away |
Steven looking across the river to Afghanistan |
Qazi Deh, Wakhan Valley, Afghanistan, opposite the fortress |
Qazi Deh, Afghanistan |
The Qah-Qaha Fortress is situated at the confluence where a small river joins the Panj from Afghanistan |
Building in the village of Qazi Deh, Wakhan Valley, Afghanistan |
Grain harvest, Qazi Deh, Wakhan Valley, Afghanistan |
Afghan farmers working the land, Wakhan Valley |
Ishkashim, a large town in the lower Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Reminder of the Tajik SSR - V.I. Lenin, Iskhashim |
Happy Independence Day! |
Another Independence of Tajikistan billboard |
Eshkashem, Afghanistan |
Sign for Wakhan National Park, Eshkashem, Afghanistan |
Bridge crossing the Panj River linking Ishkashim, Tajikistan with Eshkashem, Afghanistan - closed, darn! |
A common sight in Central Asia, herders moving their flock along the road |
Paved road from Ishkashim headed downstream towards Khorog |
Sumjin, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
House with octagonal windows, Sumjin, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Pinkish mountains, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Colors of the Tajik flag painted on a rock...flip it over for the Iranian colors |
Rocky Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Decent paved section between Ishkashim and Khorog |
Sheep-Jam, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Shepard boy, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Shepard boy, Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan |
Shadows indicating that the afternoon is getting late |
Poplar Trees on the valley floor |
The valley narrows as it turns north towards Khorog |
The river turns north as it approaches a large village on the Afghanistan side |
Losing the light |
Primitive house in a village on the Afghanistan side of the Panj River with a large pile of hay on the roof |
September harvest in bundles, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan |
The narrow valley of the Panj River south of Khorog separating Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan from Tajikistan's GBAO |
Villagers working in the fields as the harvest waits in bundles |
Village with poplar trees, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan |
Panj River in shadow |
Late afternoon on the drive to Khorog |
Blue sky and red stone above |
Donkey waits by the harvest across the river in Afghanistan |
Village along the Panj River, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan |
Mountains on the Tajikistan side of the Panj River |
Mountains on the Tajikistan side of the Panj River |
Youth - Future of the Nation, Independence - Valuable Riches |
The late afternoon sun only reaches the mountain tops |
Panj Valley, Tajikistan |
A decent looking road leads south from this small Afghan village situated in a bend in the Panj River |
Afghan village on the west bank of the Panj River, Badakhshan Province |
House with a large haystack, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan |
Silhouettes of poplar trees with the late afternoon sun on the surrounding peaks |
Back to bumpy dirt in this narrow section along the Panj River south of Khorog |
Welcome to Shugnan District |