RIVERS AND LAKES

Most of the Fann rivers belong to the Zeravshan system, one of the biggest in Central Asia. The Zeravshan flows westwards providing water to the cities located on the eastern edges of the Karakum Desert, these include Bukhara and Samarkand. Further west the river gradually dries up as it is soaked up by the sandy desert soils.
There are about 30 lakes in the Fann mountains of moraine-glacial and landslide origin. The largest one is Iskanderkul Lake (area is 3.4 sq. km., maximum depth 72m.), it is surrounded by rocky mountains and lies at an altitude of 2209m. The lake owes its origin to a huge landslide which created a dam across the Iskanderdaria river. The name of the lake is usually connected with the Alexander the Great (Iskander is the Persian name for Alexander). The Iskanderdaria river flows out of the lake by way of a magnificent waterfall almost 40m, high. Narrow terraces on the lake shore suggest much higher levels of water in the past. The highest of these lies 117m. above the present water level. The water is cold even during the hottest days. Some fish can be found in it. The lake is surrounded by brushwood of dog-rose, wild cherry etc.
In the upper flow of Urech river lie the picturesque Kulikalon lakes. They are of moraine-glacial origin, the main one, lying at 2800m., is named Kulikalon (which means 'Big Lake' in Tajik), it is the second largest lake in the Fann. Malyi (Small) Kulikalon is next to the Bolshoi (big) lake. The water in the Malyi lake is warmer than that in the others and it is possible to swim in it. The Kulikalon waters filter out through moraine soils and give birth to Urech river. The highest of the Kulikalon lakes, Dyushakha, lies at 3000m., at the foot of the icy north face of Mt. Mirali.
On the way from the Archamaidan valley to Kulikalon lakes one comes across three small lakes. The biggest of these is the Chukurak twin-lake. Water from the higher lake cascades into the lower, smaller one. Not far from Chukurak lake there is the small Beloye lake,, its surface is always covered with water-lilies making it unique in the Fann. 1.5 km.'away from Beloye lies the small Ziorat lake.
The beautifully colored 'Alaudin lakes are located at 2700m. in the upper flow of Chandara river, amongst the highest and most dramatic peaks of the Fann mountains. The main lakes: Chapdara or Bolshoye (Big), Sredneye (Middle), Vostochnoye (Eastern), and Nizhneye (Lower) are connected to each other by the Chandara river which tumbles in several small waterfalls from one lake into the next. In its upper reaches the Chandara river often completely vanishes underground. At the head of the Chandara Valley lies the bleak but magnificently located Mutnye (Murky) lake, fed by the melt waters of glaciers flowing from Energia and Chimtarga. In the upper Zindon valley are located the Vierkhny Allo and Bolshoi Allo lakes. The latter was formed geologically recently by a huge landslide which covered the ancient moraine. Water from Bolshoi Allo lake seeps under the landslide for 5 kms. before coming to the surface as the Zindon river. Pack animals are unable to go above Bolshoye Allo, and above an altitude of 3300m. one enters a virtual desert of rock and snow.