Peak Engels
Natural, Geological formations, Mountain peak
Engels peak is located in the central part of the Shohdara ridge with 37֠10’18” n.l. and 72֠31’23” s.l. in the south-west of the Pamirs in Tajikistan with a height of 6,510 m. Mainly, Engels peak is consisted of gneisses and crystalline shales. In the northern base of the peak there is a Nazpar glacier, while in its southern base Kishtijarob glacier is located. This peak first time was climbed in 1954, and first time it was named after the Empress Mariya (wife of Emperor Alexander III Maria Feodorovna) by the first Russian tourists in southern part in the late of XIX century. Later, during the Soviet times, this peak was renamed in the honor of communist theorist, Friedrich Engels.
“Marx-Engels” mountain cluster has a sharply continental climate. The weather is fickle. Even during summer times snowfalls occur on the tops of massif. From the south, the “Afghan” wind brings humid air, which intensifies the icing of the rocks. The duration of the winter there is seven months ending at the end of April. In the valleys the average winter temperature rarely drops below zero, while on the top of the mountains the temperature is approximately -40 ֠ C. Summer is characterized by high altitude when temperatures there rise from +10 ֠ C to +20 ֠ C.
Travelling to the Site
Engels peak could be reached from the Zong village and Dirch village of Ishkashim. The road to the peak Engels peak starts from Zong village. Zong is in the south-east from Khorog in Ishkashim district (Wakhan valley). The distance from Khorog to Zong is 217 km and from the district center 115km. From Zong village, you can take a trip/walking tour through the meadow to the Marx and Engels base camp, where you can take a good view of the Peak Engels.In the Zong village of Vakhan there a lot of sites and monuments, such as Virshimqala (Abreshimqala), the fortresses Dirchubghash-Krchabuq, Karqala, Khamchqala, Otashkada, Rabote deh, Dirch refuge, tree-sacred Chiltan, sacred place of shasti Murtazo Ali, the sacred stone of Bibi Fatima-I Zahro, the house of religious foremen, house – museum Pir Said Karamalishoh and others.