Tadshikistan

The Tadshikistan is a state in Asia. The country neighbours with Afghanistan, China, Kyrgystan and Usbekhistan. Most of the country is covered with mountains, reaching the height of 7000 metres above sea level. Pamir Mountain Range is rising in south of the country. In general,the surface is very mountaneous, nearly 50% of the country is situated higher than 3000 metres, only in north-west and south-west, small plain lands are to be found. Most of the country are covered with mountain belts of Pamir, Alay Mountain Ranges and Zeravshan Mountain Ridge.

The climate has continental character, with hot dry summer and very cold winter. The average temperature in January in Dushanbe makes 1 °C, but in mountains the temperature reaches -25 °C. The temperature in July is 28 °C, and in the mountains it is 0 °C. The average year precipitation makes 100 mm, in the mountains is makes 1400 mm..

The Tadzhiks are of Indo-Aryan origin, despite the fact that most of surrounding ethnic groups are of Mongolian origin.

The Tadzhik language belongs into Iranian branch of languages. The Tadzhiks form approx. 65% of total population. Regarding minorities: these are Usbeks (24%), they form, in several areas, majority of inhabitants. At present, the Russians form only 5,5% of population, and their number is still decreasing. Further, the Tartars or the Kyrgysians form another ethnics.