Isfara (Tajik: Исфара Persian: اسفره; Russian: Исфара) is a city in Sughd Region in northern Tajikistan, situated on the border with Kyrgyzstan. The city was the seat of the former Isfara District.
Isfara
Исфара اسفره | |
|---|---|
 A sign welcoming travellers to Isfara | |
  Isfara | |
| Coordinates: 40°07′N 70°38′E / 40.117°N 70.633°E | |
| Country |  Tajikistan |
| Region | Sughd Region |
| Incorporated | 1933 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dilshod Rasulzoda |
| Area | |
| • City | 832 km2 (321 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 863 m (2,831 ft) |
| Population (2020)[1] | |
| • City | 274,000 |
| • Urban | 51,700 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 |
| Postcode | 735920 |
| Official languages | |
| Website | http://isfara.tj |
There are currently territorial disputes between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan over the area of Isfara Valley.[3]
History edit
The first author who mentions Esfara as a town, is Bābor. He praised the orchards and fruits of Isfara, especially its almonds. The 16th century saw the construction of large public buildings, notably mosques and medreseh. In the 18th century Isfara was the seat of the Khan of Ḵoqand whose wars with Bokhara resulted in the destruction of some historical monuments.[4]
Around 20 km south, in the village of Chorku, the mausoleum Hazrati Shoh Mausoleum, is carved from wood, partly dating back to the 8th century,[5] a structure that is unique in Central Asia.
Demographics edit
The population of Isfara is mostly Tajik.
| Year | Population | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 34,500 | census |
| 2000 | 37,000 | census |
| 2008 | 40,600 | estimate[6] |
Geography edit
Isfara is situated near the border junction of three independent states Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, at a height of 863m above sea level. The river Isfara flows through the city. Its territory is 832 km2.
Climate edit
Typical for lowland Tajikistan, Isfara has a continental Mediterranean climate (Köppen Dsa) with hot, dry summers, chilly winters with significant precipitation, and pleasant springs with the year’s heaviest precipitation. The average temperature is 11.8 °C or 53.2 °F with the warmest month being July with an average temperature of 25 °C or 77 °F and the coldest month being January with an average temperature of −2.7 °C or 27.1 °F. The average annual precipitation is 544.6 millimetres or 21.44 inches and there are on average 74.3 days of precipitation.[7]
| Climate data for Isfara | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.7 (27.1) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
6.2 (43.2) |
13.6 (56.5) |
18.3 (64.9) |
22.9 (73.2) |
25.0 (77.0) |
23.2 (73.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
0.1 (32.2) |
11.8 (53.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 56.9 (2.24) |
62.6 (2.46) |
89.9 (3.54) |
83.8 (3.30) |
68.3 (2.69) |
18.7 (0.74) |
10.8 (0.43) |
3.0 (0.12) |
5.4 (0.21) |
43.7 (1.72) |
47.1 (1.85) |
54.4 (2.14) |
544.6 (21.44) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 7.9 | 8.5 | 10.1 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 7.4 | 74.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74.2 | 72.3 | 65.0 | 58.6 | 51.4 | 40.5 | 39.9 | 43.0 | 45.9 | 55.9 | 65.1 | 73.2 | 57.1 |
| Source: "The Climate of Karakol". Weatherbase. Retrieved 31 July 2014. | |||||||||||||
Subdivisions edit
Before ca. 2018, Isfara was the seat of Isfara District, which covered the same area as the present city of Isfara.[8] The city of Isfara covers Isfara proper, three towns and nine jamoats.[1] These are as follows:[9]
| Jamoat | Population (Jan. 2015)[9] |
|---|---|
| Naftobod (town) | 4,300[8] |
| Nurafshon (town) | 1,600[8] |
| Shurob (town) | 3,000[8] |
| Chilgazi | 15,997 |
| Chorku | 37,065 |
| Khonabad | 12,159 |
| Kulkand | 22,731 |
| Lakkon | 7,579 |
| Navgilem | 38,104 |
| Shahrak | 16,555 |
| Surkh | 14,456 |
| Vorukh | 30,506 |
Economy edit
Some 20 industrial companies in Isfara produce electrical equipment, chemical and metallurgical products, construction materials, food products and others.
Isfara is famous for its apricot orchards.[10]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Population of the Republic of Tajikistan as of 1 January 2020" (PDF) (in Russian). Statistics office of Tajikistan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "КОНСТИТУЦИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАДЖИКИСТАН". prokuratura.tj. Parliament of Tajikistan. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ "Central Asia :: Kyrgyzstan". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "ESFARA – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
- ^ p181 Middleton & Thomas, Tajikistan (Odyssey Guide)
- ^ Population in the Republic of Tajikistan as of 1 January 2008, State Statistical Committee, Dushanbe, 2008
- ^ "Weatherbase.com". weatherbase.com. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Population of the Republic of Tajikistan as of 1 January 2015" (PDF) (in Russian). Statistics office of Tajikistan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ a b Jamoat-level basic indicators, United Nations Development Programme in Tajikistan, accessed 3 October 2020
- ^ "Isfara: a travel guide". Caravanistan. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
