December 11 - International Mountain Day                      

The independent Republic of Tajikistan is known in the world primarily as a mountainous country. Every Tajik and citizen of Tajikistan knows well that 93 percent of the territory of the republic is made up of mountains. Our country has the highest mountain ranges in the world - Pamir, Tienshan and Aloy. The purest water is one of the most valuable resources of our mountainous country, almost 1,000 rivers with a length of more than 10 kilometers flow in the republic, and 60 percent of the water resources of Central Asia originate from the mountains of Tajikistan.

Based on the decision of the 57th General Assembly of the United Nations, nature lovers around the world celebrate December 11 every year to promote the importance of sustainable development of mountains as International Mountain Day.

The mountains of Tajikistan are rich in various minerals, including oil and coal. Numerous deposits of iron ore, rare and precious metals have been found in the mountains, which are also rich in table salt and building materials.

It is very important that a kind attitude to the mountainous land of Tajikistan, not polluting the unique nature with waste, rational use of natural resources and leaving a legacy of diverse flora and fauna to future generations is the civic duty of every patriot of the nation.