Ishkoshim District

This article is about the district in Tajikistan. For the adjacent district in Afghanistan, see Ishkashim District.
Ishkoshim District
District
Russian: Ишкашимский район
Tajik: Ноҳияи Ишкошим
Location of Ishkoshim District in Tajikistan
Location of Ishkoshim District in Tajikistan
Coordinates: 36°45′N 71°40′E / 36.750°N 71.667°E / 36.750; 71.667
Country Tajikistan
RegionGorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
CapitalIshkoshim
Area
 • Total3,656 km2 (1,412 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total32,900
 • Density9.0/km2 (23/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (TJT)
Postal code
736500
Area code+992 3553
Official languages
Websiteishkoshim.tj

Ishkoshim District or Nohiya-i Ishkoshim (Russian: Ишкашимский район, Tajik: Ноҳияи Ишкошим) is a district in eastern Tajikistan, in the extreme south-west of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). It borders Afghanistan along the river Panj to the south and to the west.[3] The population of Ishkoshim district is 32,900 (1 January 2020 estimate).[1]

The district is roughly V-shaped and lies northeast of the Panj River where its course turns from west to north.  It is bordered on the south and west Afghanistan across the Panj River and the lower Pamir River and on the north by Roshtqal'a District. There are short borders with Shughnon District to the north and Murghab District to the east.  The Shakhdara Range is along the northern border with Roshtqal'a District and the north–south Ishkoshim Range is along the district's eastern border.[3]

The district capital is Ishkoshim, a town at the bend of the Panj, opposite the Ishkashim District in Afghanistan. There is an ancient balas ruby (technically spinel) mine at Kuh-i-Lal.  Ishkoshim District is a particularly attractive destination in Gorno-Badakhshan for its archaeological sites and spectacular scenery.[4]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "КОНСТИТУЦИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАДЖИКИСТАН". prokuratura.tj. Parliament of Tajikistan. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Republic of Tajikistan, map showing administrative division as of January 1, 2004, "Tojikkoinot" Cartographic Press, Dushanbe
  4. ^ Robert Middleton and Huw Thomas, Tajikistan and the High Pamirs, 2008