Darvaz
Encyclopedia
Darvaz alternatively spelt Darwaz, Darvoz, or Darwoz, was an independent principality until the 19th century, ruled by a mir and its capital was at Kalai-Khumb
. The kingdom controlled territory on the left and right banks of the Oxus River. In 1878 Darvaz was invaded by neighboring Bukhara
and absorbed into the Bukharan Emirate. In 1895 the left bank of Darvaz was transferred to Afghanistan
as part of a border agreement. In the 1920s the portion of Darvaz located in the Tajikistan Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union
was assigned to the Gharm Oblast
. When the Gharm Oblast was dissolved in 1955, Darvaz became part of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast.
Today, the northern half of Darvaz is the Darvoz district
in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
in Tajikistan
(Kalai-Khumb
is now the district capital). The southern half of Darvaz is the Darwaz district
in Badakhshan Province
in Afghanistan. They are connected by the Tajik-Afghan Friendship Bridge
, a permanent overland link that carries commercial and passenger traffic. The bridge was opened in July, 2004. Darwaz District in Afghanistan has a population of approximately 21,000 after sub-division in 2005 which led to the formation of Darwazi Bala District.
Kalai-Khumb
Qal'ai Khumb or Qal'a-i-Khum, also Kalai-Khumb , is a small town located in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan on the border with Afghanistan. Formerly it was the capital of the independent statelet of Darvaz. Now it is the capital of the Darvoz District of Tajikistan...
. The kingdom controlled territory on the left and right banks of the Oxus River. In 1878 Darvaz was invaded by neighboring Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
and absorbed into the Bukharan Emirate. In 1895 the left bank of Darvaz was transferred to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as part of a border agreement. In the 1920s the portion of Darvaz located in the Tajikistan Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
was assigned to the Gharm Oblast
Gharm Oblast
The Gharm Oblast was an oblast in the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union from the 1920s to 1955. Its capital was Gharm. The population of Gharm were known as Gharmis, a term still used in Tajikistan today.-History:...
. When the Gharm Oblast was dissolved in 1955, Darvaz became part of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast.
Today, the northern half of Darvaz is the Darvoz district
Darvoz district
Darvoz District or Nohiya-i Darvoz is a district in Tajikistan, located at the extreme north-west of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province. It borders on Afghanistan to the south, along the Panj, and within Tajikistan on Khatlon Province to the west and on the Region of Republican Subordination...
in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province is an autonomous, mountainous province in the east of Tajikistan. Located in the Pamir Mountains, it makes up 45% of the land area of the country but only 3% of the population....
in Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
(Kalai-Khumb
Kalai-Khumb
Qal'ai Khumb or Qal'a-i-Khum, also Kalai-Khumb , is a small town located in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan on the border with Afghanistan. Formerly it was the capital of the independent statelet of Darvaz. Now it is the capital of the Darvoz District of Tajikistan...
is now the district capital). The southern half of Darvaz is the Darwaz district
Darwaz district
Darwaz distrcit is a district in Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan. It is part of the historic region Darwaz which is now divided between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Darwaz District has a population of approximately 21,000 after sub-division in 2005 which led to the formation of Darwazi Bala...
in Badakhshan Province
Badakhshan Province
Badakhshan is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, consisting of 28 districts. It is located in the north-east of the country, between the Hindu Kush and the Amu Darya. It is part of the Badakhshan region.-Geography:...
in Afghanistan. They are connected by the Tajik-Afghan Friendship Bridge
Tajik-Afghan Friendship Bridge
The Tajik-Afghan Friendship Bridge connects the two banks of Darvaz across the Amu Darya river separating Tajikistan and Afghanistan, at Khorog.It was opened on 6 July 2004.- Overview :...
, a permanent overland link that carries commercial and passenger traffic. The bridge was opened in July, 2004. Darwaz District in Afghanistan has a population of approximately 21,000 after sub-division in 2005 which led to the formation of Darwazi Bala District.