Central Asia 5 - Tajikistan's Pamir Plateau.

Finally arrived at the Pamir Plateau!!! 👉The border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan is divided by a 1,125-kilometer-long Panj River, which can be said to be a natural territorial division. The two countries have five bridges that can communicate with each other, but only local residents can pass through. There are many checkpoints and military equipment along the way to prevent illegal smuggling between the two countries. 👉Khorog is the capital of the GBAO Autonomous Region and the fourth largest city in Tajikistan. When Britain and Russia competed for land in the late 19th century, the autonomous region here was designated as a "buffer zone". The Soviet Union built the largest hydropower plant in Tajikistan here. In 1920, there were only 20,000 people in the GBAO Autonomous Region. Khorog is a plant name, which looks like a cactus🌵, hence the name. The first bridge connecting Afghanistan and Tajikistan was built in 1902, called the "Friendship Bridge". 👉M41 Highway: It passes through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. This highway is the only continuous highway in the rugged Pamir Mountains. This highway has a history of thousands of years and was once one of the roads connecting the Silk Road. The number "M41" of this highway is set by the Soviet Union. 👉Wakhan Corridor: The Wakhan Corridor is located on the Pamir Plateau, with rugged terrain and cold climate. It is a narrow geographical area located in northeastern Afghanistan, between Tajikistan, Pakistan and China. The formation of this corridor has a profound historical background, especially related to the "Great Game" in the 19th century. In the 19th century, Britain and Russia conducted a far-reaching geopolitical competition in Central Asia, known as the "Great Game". The core of the competition between the two empires is to control the influence of Central Asia. The establishment of the Wakhan Corridor was mainly the result of negotiations between Britain and Russia. In order to avoid direct contact between the two empires, the agreement signed in 1873 included the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan as a buffer zone. 👉Snow Leopard: Known as the "King of Snow Mountain", it is often active near the snow line and in the snow, hence the name "Snow Leopard". Snow leopards are native to the mountains of Central Asia, and the Tianshan and other high-altitude mountains are the main distribution areas of snow leopards. Its fur is grayish white, and its relatively long and thick tail is a distinct feature that distinguishes snow leopards from other similar species.