Fann Mountains

Fann Mountains
Fann Mountains
Highest point
Elevation	5,489 m (18,009 ft)
Parent peak	Chimtarga Peak
Coordinates	39°10′00.0″N 68°15′00.0″E / 39.166667°N 68.250000°E
Naming
Native name	Кӯҳҳои Фон (Tajik); Fon togʻlari (Uzbek);
Geography
	Location in Western Tajikistan Fann Mountains (Uzbekistan) Fann Mountains (West and Central Asia)
Location	Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
Parent range	Pamir-Alay

The Fann Mountains (Tajik: Кӯҳҳои Фон, romanized: Kúhhoi Fon) are part of the western Pamir-Alay mountain system in Tajikistan's Sughd Province, between the Zarafshan Range to the north and the Gissar Range to the south.^[1] In an east-west direction, they extend from the Fan Darya to the Archimaydan River.

Peaks, lakes and access

The Fanns boast about a hundred peaks, with several rising to altitudes of more than 5,000 meters and relative elevations of up to 1,500 meters.^[2] The highest point in Fann Mountains is Chimtarga peak (5,489 m). Other 5,000-meter peaks are Bodkhona (5,138 m), Chapdara (5,050 m), Big Hansa, Little Hansa (5,031 m), Zamok ('5,070 m), Mirali (5,132 m), and Energia (5,120 m).

There are many lakes in the Fanns.The best known are Alaudin lakes in the Chapdara River valley, Kulikalon Lakes on the northern slope of Chimtarga peak, Big Allo Lake and Iskanderkul Lake.

There is a stunning mountain range in Western Tajikistan, near the city of Punjikent, which surprises tourists with its vivid, ever-changing colours. This are known as the Seven Lakes, Haftkul, or even Marguzor Lakes. In Tadjiki it means seven lakes (named after the largest lake in the group).^[3]

The best time for visiting is late June–mid-September for trekking and July–August for mountaineering, when the weather is usually at its best. Access is generally from Panjakent, which can be reached either from Dushanbe or Samarkand.^[4]