Murghob (Tajik: Мурғоб) or Murghab (Russian: Мургаб, Murgab, from the Persian word margh-ab, meaning 'prairie river') is the capital of Murghob District in the Pamir Mountains of Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. With a population of just under 7,500, Murghob is the only significant town in the eastern half of Gorno-Badakhshan. It is the highest town in Tajikistan (and of the former Soviet Union) at 3,650 meters above sea level. It is where the Pamir Highway crosses the Bartang river.[1]
Russian officials standing in front of Pamirsky Post, 1915
From 1892 to 1893, a fortification named Shadzhansky Post (Russian: Шаджанский пост) existed on the site of the current town of Murghob.[2] Some historical records attest that, in 1893, Russian soldiers established Pamirsky Post (Russian: Памирский пост, lit.'Pamir post') in the area as the main Russian fortification in the Pamir Mountains.[3] It was to be their most advanced military outpost into Central Asia.[4] Other records published much later state that Pamirsky Post was actually established elsewhere on 26 July 1903, as new barracks near the village of Kuni Kurgan.[5]
The modern town of Murghob was constructed during the period of Soviet rule in Tajikistan as a rest stop along the Pamir Highway. The old Soviet military outpost closed in 2002, causing economic hardship partially offset by a rise in tourism.[6]
Climate
Murghob has an alpine tundra climate (ET) in the Köppen climate classification. The average annual temperature is −3.9 °C (25.0 °F). The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) and the coolest month is January with an average temperature of −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F). The average annual precipitation is 347.7 mm (13.69 in) and has an average of 87.1 days with precipitation. The wettest month is May with an average of 45.1 mm (1.78 in) of precipitation and the driest month is September with an average of 10.9 mm (0.43 in) of precipitation.[7]
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