Murgab
Murghab is harsh and beautiful.
According to some data, the history of the village Murgab, which is located on the junction of the Pamir Highway, began in 1892 with the construction of a military fortification called the Shajan Post. The fortification was founded under the command of the captain of the General Staff, P. A. Kuznetsov. However, for quite a long time it was assumed that Murgab appeared in 1893 and was at that time the main Russian military fortification throughout the Pamirs and was called the Pamir Post, which in turn was built at the initiative of military engineer Captain Serebrennikov.
Other later sources said that the small settlement Murgab was founded in July 1903 and consisted of the military barracks of the Russian fortifications in the Pamirs, which had previously been located in the village of Kuni Kurgan.
And yet, despite the different versions of the appearance of the village Murgab, research proved that it originated in 1892 precisely during the founding of the first frontier "Shadzhan post" in the Pamirs.
The climate in Murgab is harsh and sharply continental: in autumn and winter strong cold winds blow here, the air is dry, the temperature drops to -40 degrees, and in summer, on the contrary, the heat is +40. There is practically no vegetation here, therefore residents treat trees and green plantations with special thriftiness. This situation is explained by the fact that Murgab is the highest mountain’s town in the territory of the former CIS.
Two rivers merge in the area of the city - the river of the same name Murgab and Ak-Baital, feeding the arid lands of Murgab with their waters. On the southern side of the outskirts of Murghab is the Midian Valley - the entrance to the gorge, through which you can get to the Midian hot springs, thanks to which greenhouses, baths, cafes and a yurt camp work in Murghab.
Murghab is known for three lakes: a large salt lake Karakul, which spreads not far from the border of Kyrgyzstan. It offers stunning views of the peaks of mountain ranges and glaciers; Sarez glacial lake, which lies surrounded by multi-colored rocks and pompous mountains; Fresh Lake Shorkul is located in a vast mountain basin. The surface of the lake is distinguished by an unusual play of colors, which vary from turquoise-blue to blue-violet during the day. In the vicinity of the lake are Saki burial mounds.
In Murgab there is a tourist base, where quite comfortable conditions are offered for travelers along the Pamir highway. Only the mountain landscapes in these areas certainly deserve to visit Murghab.