Leaving the last village behind, things get rugged and interesting.

The lake: cold as ice and a very strange, mineral induced color, Iskander-kul is located at an altitude of 2,195 m (6600 ft) on the northern slopes of the Gissar Range in the Fann Mountains, it is the highest in the range.

As I said, ice cold, and I had to find out

The Presidential summer house, where President Ronald Reagan once stayed

All along the river one can see these small platforms. Some are used for commercial purposed in the summer, when this area is a major vacation site for locals, escaping the city heat, others are used just for their families and friends. They can even sleep on them lulled by the sound of the rushing river. Here I just happen to catch a late. off-season, group that is using a platform. For the winter-sport afficionadoes there is a ski resort not too far from here.

Dushanbe, Tajikistan 2011