Category: Wildlife

Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Tajikistan, January 2007

Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Tajikistan, January 2007 (PDF)

COUNTRY PROFILE: TAJIKISTAN January 2007

COUNTRY

Formal Name: Republic of Tajikistan (Jumhurii Tojikiston).

Short Form: Tajikistan.

Term for Citizen(s): Tajikistani(s).

Capital: Dushanbe.

Other Major Cities: Istravshan, Khujand, Kulob, and Qurghonteppa.

Independence: The official date of independence is September 9, 1991, the date on which Tajikistan withdrew from the Soviet Union.

Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), International Women’s Day (March 8), Navruz (Persian New Year, March 20, 21, or 22), International Labor Day (May 1), Victory Day (May 9), Independence Day (September 9), Constitution Day (November 6), and National Reconciliation Day (November 9).

Flag: The flag features three horizontal stripes: a wide middle white stripe with narrower red (top) and green stripes. Centered in the white stripe is a golden crown topped by seven gold, five-pointed stars. The red is taken from the flag of the Soviet Union; the green represents agriculture and the white, cotton. The crown and stars represent the country’s sovereignty and the friendship of nationalities.

 

Continue reading Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Tajikistan, January 2007

HORSE, KARABAIR

HORSE, KARABAIR

Also known as Karabair- skaya (Russian), the Karabair is one of the most ancient horse breeds of Central Asia. In appearance the Karabair resembles the Arabian, Persian, and Turk-menian as well as the steppe horse breeds. The breed is improved through pure breeding. Karabair horses show good endurance and versatile working qualities. This breed was developed in Uzbekistan and north- ern Tajikistan (former Soviet republics of Central Asia) under the influence of southern and steppe breeds. It is well adapted to both saddle and harness, and has the typical build of a saddle and harness horse. Continue reading HORSE, KARABAIR

HORSE, LOKAI

HORSE, LOKAI The Lokai is a mixed breed from Central Asia. At 140–150 centimeters high, it is the shortest of Central Asian horse breeds. Strong and sure-footed, it is a good riding and pack horse, agile and enduring. Its coat is gray, bay, or chestnut (often with a golden tint), sometimes curled. It is an excel- lent riding horse, well-suited to competitive sports. The Lokai originates from the Pamir Mountains, now in Tajikistan, south of the Tian Shan range. Its name comes from the Lokai tribe of Uzbeks who, starting from the sixteenth century, improved this breed by crossing it with Akhal-Teke, Karabair, and even Ara- bian horses. The Lokai horse is common in Uzbek- istan and Tajikistan, where it is a good, tough saddle and pack pony in its native mountains, at altitudes of 2,000 to 4,000 meters. It can carry a rider eighty kilo- meters a day over mountain tracks at an average speed of eight or nine kilometers per hour. In a nomadic tra- dition, the mares are also milked. The tough and swift Lokai is famous for its use by Tajik riders in the eques- trian game of kopar (kokpar) where riders fight over a goat carcass (similar to the related sport of Afghanistan known as buzkashi). Continue reading HORSE, LOKAI