U-shaped
Many shapes have metaphorical names, i.e., their names are metaphors: these shape
A shape is a graphics, graphical representation of an object's form or its external boundary, outline, or external Surface (mathematics), surface. It is distinc ...
grassy valley or '' pamir'' in the eastern part of the Wakhan in north-eastern
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
. The valley is 100 km long and 10 km wide, and is bounded to the north by the Nicholas Range, a subrange of the
Pamir Mountains
The Pamir Mountains are a Mountain range, range of mountains between Central Asia and South Asia. They are located at a junction with other notable mountains, namely the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun Mountains, Kunlun, Hindu Kush and the Himalaya ...
.
Chaqmaqtin Lake (17 km by 3 km) lies towards the western end of the valley while the Tegerman Su valley lies at its easternmost end. The Aksu or Murghab River flows east from the lake through the Little Pamir to enter
Tajikistan
Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...
at the eastern end of the valley. The Bozai Darya (also known as the Little Pamir River) rises a short distance west of the lake, and flows 15 km west to join the Wakhjir River and form the Wakhan River near the settlement of Bozai Gumbaz.
The Little Pamir is used by semi-nomadic Kyrgyz herders for summer pasture. In the past the valley was part of the Principality of Wakhan. In 1978 almost all the inhabitants fled to
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
in the aftermath of the
Saur Revolution
The Saur Revolution (; ), also known as the April Revolution or the April Coup, was a violent coup d'état and uprising staged on 27–28 April 1978 (, ) by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which overthrew President of Afghan ...
. Many of the Kyrgyz subsequently migrated to
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, but in October 1979, following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, a group of about 200 Kyrgyz returned to the Little Pamir. In 2003 there were 140 yurt households.
The valley supports populations of
Marco Polo sheep
The Marco Polo sheep (''Ovis ammon polii'') is a subspecies of argali sheep, named after Marco Polo. Their habitat are the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Marco Polo sheep are distinguishable mostly by their large size and spiraling horns. ...
,
ibex
An ibex ( : ibex, ibexes or ibices) is any of several species of wild goat (genus ''Capra''), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa and East Africa.
T ...
, and other wild animals. The naturalist George Schaller has advocated the creation of an international
peace park
A transboundary protected area (TBPA) is an ecological protected area that spans boundaries of more than one country or sub-national entity. Such areas are also known as transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) or peace parks.
TBPAs exist in ma ...
to protect the wildlife in the area.
The Little Pamir is accessed by trails from the roadhead at Sarhad-e Broghil, about 5 days' walk away. A rough road also leads to the Little Pamir from Murghab in Tajikistan, and was the route by which the Soviets occupied the eastern part of Wakhan. The border is now closed. In 2000 the road was used to deliver humanitarian aid to the Kyrgyz of the Little Pamir, and in 2003 a trade fair was held at the border for a few hours.
During the late-2000s, due to lawlessness, the Kyrgyz in Afghanistan reported robbery and theft in Little Pamir by bandits from Tajikistan.
In the late-2010s, a joint Chinese-Tajik-Afghan border patrol base was set up across the border on the Tajikistan side that remained secretive for a few years. Their joint patrol in Little Pamir using Chinese vehicles were spotted as early as 2016.