Kulob

Kulob (Cyrillic Кӯлоб, Persian کولاب ) is a city in the Khatlon Region in Tajikistan. With a population of 78 820 (as of 1 January 2006) is the third largest in the country.

Geography

Kulob is located in the Pamir Mountains average 580 meters above sea level. About 203 km southeast of the capital, Dushanbe located, it is drained by the river Jachsu ( a left tributary of the Kysylsu ( Panj ) ).

History

The town was an important cultural, scientific and intellectual center of Central Asia and an important trading center on the Silk Road. She was part of the Khanate of Bukhara (1500-1785) and the Emirate of Bukhara ( 1785-1920 ). On March 15, 1921, Russian troops took the city. 1934 Kulob capital of the homonymous province. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the unification of the provinces Kulob and Qurghonteppa the new region Khatlon 1992, she lost this status to Qurghonteppa.

Several thousand Russian soldiers remained in the city. According to the Directory of RF Defense Related Agencies and Personnel located in Kulob a garrison of the 201st Motorized Rifle Division from the Russian Volga-Urals Military District. More stationing locations are the capital Dushanbe ( headquarters ) and Qurghonteppa.

Economy and infrastructure

Kulob is an industrial city and a center of the cotton industry in the country.

The airport is served in Kulob irregularly by the Tajik airlines Tajik Air Dushanbe. The compound is of the weather and the year depending on fuel shortages occurring. In 1998 the railway line was opened after Qurghonteppa.

The city is home to a state university.

Twinning

With the city of Hamadan in Iran, there is a partnership.

Personalities

• Moses Znaimer, Canadian media entrepreneur
• Manija Davlatova, Tajik singer
• Shabnam Soraya, Tajik singer