Afghanistan - Wakhan Winter
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Wakhan (واخان), Afghanistan
The Wakhan Corridor is part of the Wakhan District of the northern province of Badakhshan in Afghanistan.
The Wakhan District borders Tajikistan, Pakistan and China. The Panj River forms large parts of the border between Wakhan and Tajikistan while the Hindu Kush mountain range separates Wakhan and Pakistan.
Wakhan has around 12000 – 13000 inhabitants, mostly farmers of Wakhi, Pamiri or Kyrgyz descent. The mountainous northern part of Wakhan is part of the Pamir mountain range while Mount Noshaq, Afghanistan’s highest peak (7,492-meters) is located in the Hindu Kush mountain range further south in Wakhan.
Paperwork in Ishkashim
Ishkashim Immigration Office. It takes a lot of paperwork to get into Afghanistan and the Wakhan Corridor. Ishkashim is located at the south-western end of the Wakhan corridor.
Traditional kitchen in Qazideh
A traditional family kitchen and living room ("black house") in Qazideh village.
A boy watching Cartoons
A boy watches cartoons on TV in the family home in the village of Qazideh.
Shops lining the street in Khandud
Khandud village has a few shops lining the road going through Wakhan all the way up to Sarhad-e Broghil.
Khandud is the administrative center of the Wakhan District. Khandud has a population of around 5500 people and is located at an altitude of around 2800 meters.
A man is going to get water in Khandud village
A man is going to get water in Khandud village. Khandud is the capital of the Wakhan district.
Warming up the car engine with a fire
After a cold night, a driver has difficulty starting his car in Khandud. He has to warm up the engine with a small fire underneath the car.
Rolling shop in the Wakhan Corridor
A truck serves as a "rolling shop" in the Wakhan Corridor. Here it has made a stop in Qala-e Panja village.
Sargez village
Sargez village. Sargez used to have a hot spring, but it has now been destroyed by an avalanche. Sargez has a population of around 160 people. The village is located at an altitude of 3000 meters.
Rider and Baba Tangi
A man rides down the corridor by the Wakhan River in the afternoon. This is close to the village of Sargez.
The mountain Baba Tangi can be seen in the background (6513m).
Two men and a donkey walking
Two men and a donkey walk up the corridor. Seen from the village of Sargez (on the other side of the Wakhan River).
Truck driver
One of the men driving the truck serving as a "rolling shop" in the Wakhan Corridor. Here at the Sargez village.
Early morning in Sargez village
Early morning in Sargez village. Sargez used to have a hot spring, but it has now been destroyed by an avalanche. Sargez has a population of around 160 people.
Kret village
The village of Kret is located at an altitude of about 3100 meters above sea level. The village has around 60 households.
Carrying firewood
Firewood for heating and cooking is in short supply in the Wakhan district. Donkeys often go up and down the corridor carrying firewood. Here just west of Neshtkhwar.
Through the ice
A truck has gone through the ice between Neshtkhwar and Ptukh (about 10 km west of the village of Sarhad-e Broghil).
Shepherds bring the animals back
Shepherds bring the animals back to the village in the evening.
Sarhad-e Broghil is located at an altitude of about 3300 meters. The Broghil Pass (3882 meters), which leads into Pakistan, is only 15-20 km away.
Sarhad-e Broghil village
Sarhad-e Broghil village. Sarhad-e Broghil is located at an altitude of around 3300 meters. The village has about 57 households with a total population of around 680 people.
Man from Sarhad-e Broghil
A man from the Sarhad-e Broghil village. The village is located at an altitude of around 3300 meters. The Broghil Pass (3882 meters), which leads into Pakistan, is only 15-20 km away.
Man from Sarhad-e Broghil.
A man from the Sarhad-e Broghil village. The village is located at an altitude of around 3300 meters. The Broghil Pass (3882 meters), which leads into Pakistan, is only 15-20 km away.
A cold morning
Two men and donkeys. A cold morning in Sarhad-e Broghil.
Morning, winter in Sarhad-e Broghil
It is a cold winter morning in Sarhad-e Broghil. The village is located at an altitude of around 3300 meters.
Firewood on the roof
A man is carrying firewood to the roof of his house for storage. Sarhad-e Broghil village.
Loading a donkey
Two men and a boy is loading a donkey in Sarhad-e Broghil.
Shepherd boy
A shepherd boy in Sarhad-e Broghil.
Shepherd boy
A shepherd boy in Sarhad-e Broghil.
Man from Sarhad-e Broghil
A man from Sarhad-e Broghil.
Cold morning
It is a cold morning in Sarhad-e Broghil, even when the sun is shining.
A family is gathered in the kitchen on a cold day.
A family is gathered in the kitchen
A family is gathered in the kitchen ("black house") on a cold winter day in the village of Wuzed in the Wakhan Corridor (Wuzed village).
Boy from Wuzed
Boy from Wuzed village. The village has around 24 households with a total population of around 240 people.
Fetching water
A woman goes to fetch water in Wuzed village. Wuzed has a single outdoor faucet. Water flows out at high pressure all winter. As long as the water continues to flow, it will not freeze in the pipe. Excess ice around the outlet is removed regularly.
Water pours out at high pressure all winter
Wuzed has a single outdoor faucet. Water flows out at high pressure all winter. As long as the water continues to flow, it will not freeze in the pipe. Excess ice around the outlet is removed regularly.
A man from Wuzed village
A man from Wuzed village. The village has around 24 households with a total population of about 240 people.
Woman from Wuzed
A woman from Wuzed. The women are dressed in traditional and colorful clothes, often in red.
Woman from Wuzed.
A woman from Wuzed. The women are dressed in traditional and colorful clothes, often in red.
Woman from Wuzed.
A woman from Wuzed. The women are dressed in traditional and colorful clothes, often in red.
Brother and sister
A girl and her little brother in Wuzed.
Women from Wuzed
Two women in Wuzed. The women are dressed in traditional and colorful clothes, often in red.
Shy girl, Wuzed village
A shy girl from Wuzed village.