Seven Lakes
A chain of magnificent and interconnected mountain lakes in western Tajikistan, near the city of Penjikent, astound visitors with their bright colors that continually vary. The lakes are known as the Haftkul (Tajik for "Seven Lakes"), but they are also known as the Marguzor Lakes (the largest lake in the group). Each lake has its own name and story. Nezhigon, Soya, Gushor, Nofin, Khurdak, Marguzor (the largest), and Hazorchashma are the lakes in order of decreasing depth (the highest).
In the gorge of the Shing River, in the Fan Mountains, lie The Seven Lakes. The Marguzor lakes are believed to be exceedingly old based on ancient petroglyphs that were found there. The highest lake is 2,400 meters above sea level, while the lowest lake is 1,640 meters. Over a distance of more than 14 km, there is a 760 m height difference between them. With the exception of the tallest lake, Hazorchashma, all of the lakes were actually created over time by rock falls and landslides damming up the narrow ravine.
The lakes are easily accessible by a serpentine route that passes past all seven lakes and various communities. The travel between the first and last lakes takes roughly an hour. However, due to the difficult terrain on the last leg, between lakes six and seven, many visitors choose to climb this section (which takes around 30 minutes). It is also feasible to climb the distance between the lakes in two days, with the option of continuing to other lakes and valleys and seeing the pristine scenery of the Fan highlands.
The lakes are easily accessible by a serpentine route that passes past all seven lakes and various communities. The travel between the first and last lakes takes roughly an hour. However, due to the difficult terrain on the last leg, between lakes six and seven, many visitors choose to climb this section (which takes around 30 minutes). It is also feasible to climb the distance between the lakes in two days, with the option of continuing to other lakes and valleys and seeing the pristine scenery of the Fan highlands.
Several small towns have started community-based tourism (CBT) programs recently to build lodging and other necessities for visitors, especially in the area of Nofin Lake. Even though they are basic, these guest houses let tourists experience the local culture and way of life. Camping is also very common in plenty of lovely locations near rivers and lakes.
Small fish that cannot be caught and eaten are found in four of the lakes. The lakes also receive water from numerous smaller mountain rivers, which delays their filling until mid-July. The water level may be low in other seasons.
The only way to get to this Fan Mountain spectacle is by car, departing from Penjikent. You turn onto a smaller, paved road that eventually turns into a dirt road after a few kilometers on the major Dushanbe road. About an hour is needed for this trip. Additionally, it is possible to get to the Seven Lakes via Penjikent due to the proximity of the Uzbek border, but doing so will add travel time to the 100 km journey from Samarkand to Jartepa-Sarazm.
To explore the Seven Lakes from Penjikent or Samarkand, allow at least a full day. Although the distance to the lakes is modest, you will most likely want to spend at least 10-20 minutes, and up to an hour in certain locations, at each lake. If you have more time, local community-based tourism projects provide excellent value and insight into the local way of life. Staying overnight also allows you to go on wonderful hikes in the mountains with breathtaking views of the Seven Lakes amidst the Fan mountains.
Location: Fan Mountains, in the Shing River gorge
