GEOLOGY AND RELIEF

The highest part of the Fann lie to the south of the Kulikalon lakes, the highest peak, Mt Chimtarga, being 5489m.; it's ice-covered rugged summit is almost as high as Elbrus. On all sides Chimtarga is surrounded by dozens of fine peaks: Greater and Smaller Ganza, Moskva, Energia and others. 11 of these are higher than 5000m. The Eastern Fann ridge starts at Energia peak and extends east between the Pasrud and Iskanderdaria rivers. The high, but relatively short, Western Fann ridge starts at Miraly summit and stretches between the Voru and Urech rivers to end not far from the Artuch river. The main Fann ridges are built up of metamorphosed limestones and the secondary ridges of soft shales. The geology of the Fann mountains influences the main relief forms: the rounded slopes of the shale ridges are covered by turf and extensive screes are found in the upper reaches of rivers, at the foot of ridges and on the lower passes. Limestone walls rise high above the valleys, the rock is particularly steep on south faces, where the often vertical cliffs have few crack systems. Glaciers and permanent snow lies above about 3400 m., particularly on the gentler, northern slopes.