Anomalous Zones of Tajikistan

Dragon Lake Anomalies

This is the largest, most famous, and mysterious glacial-tectonic lake. It is located in the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan in the driest and wildest eastern part of the Pamirs at an altitude of about four thousand kilometers (by the way, this is one hundred meters higher than the well-known high-altitude Lake Titicaca in the Andes).

Not far from the lake runs the Chinese border with Tajikistan. The lake is situated in the mountains, and there is not a single stream nearby. From above, it resembles a mirror spot on the mountain peak.

According to one version by scientists, Lake Karakul was formed as a result of a meteorite impact approximately 25 million years ago. A curious feature of this unique body of water is that the shores of the lake rest on ice for a significant stretch, and ice even lies on the bottom. Scientists do not yet have a unified opinion on where it came from at all. It may be a memory of ancient glaciers or remnants of an ice sheet that filled the basin during the glacial period. Be that as it may, the ice on the shores of the lake is gradually melting, resulting in sinkholes, channels, small lakes, and islands separating from the shores, while the lake itself is gradually changing in size. It is also noteworthy that the Karakul basin is the most desert-like place in the Pamirs. It receives the least precipitation—about twenty millimeters per year.

Since ancient times, the endorheic lake, which unexpectedly and frequently changes the color of its water, has been surrounded by a mystical aura. It was even called the Dragon Lake, with rumors that mysterious creatures, long extinct on Earth, live in the depths of "the bluest in the world."

Border guards have observed numerous times how giant creatures resembling fish, reportedly up to five meters long, swam near the shores of the lake. They behaved very strangely, gathering together as if playing some games, stirring up the lake foam.

Border guards, observing through binoculars, counted as many as five such frolicking giants.

After the fish disappeared, a very strange sound began to resonate over the water above the lake, resembling the tired "sigh" of an underwater monster, which could be heard within a radius of two kilometers, while the surface of the mountain lake remained still.

Dragon Lake had attracted attention before. If we recall the year 1966, it was already being studied by the

Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom. They sent specialists to the area who began observing the lake and taking aerial photographs. Once, they were lucky. They captured a gigantic creature moving across the mirror surface of the lake.

This sensation spread around the world. The photographs were sent for examination to experts, who soon confirmed their authenticity. The image captured a gigantic creature moving across the lake.

Experts determined that it was an animal of enormous size, resembling an underwater lizard, which navigates very well in its element, and upon seeing humans, simply disappears underwater, as if wanting to preserve some great secret known only to itself.

Starting in 1969, researchers attempted to catch the monster using submarines "Pizis" and "Viperfish" equipped with special viewing screens. In 1995, a maneuverable underwater vehicle called "Time Machine" was involved in the lake's research. Attempts to capture the giant were unsuccessful. The research also yielded no results. The monstrous owner of the lake was also very cunning.

As soon as the research quieted down at the lake, it began to appear on the water's surface, as if studying and assessing the situation. Gazing at the lake's surface and calming down, reassured that no one was bothering or annoying it, it slowly submerged, evoking genuine interest from the lucky ones who saw it again. And again, excitement began around this legendary lake.

In 1992, the unique lake was thoroughly surveyed using sonar.

An expedition led by scientist MacAndrews managed to track down a total of five giant animals in this lake. According to scientists, these were dinosaurs that managed to survive to our time.

In confirmation of this, there are underwater photographs taken with laser equipment, where the outlines of the giants are clearly visible. However, no one among the researchers managed to encounter the giant at close range. Moreover, while they studied the underwater world and inhabitants of the lake, they were able to responsibly note that there is an anomalous zone in the area of "Dragon" lake, where unexplained phenomena occur.

Sometimes a fireball with a diameter of more than ten meters hovers over the lake. Then it seems to explode and break into dozens of small glowing lights, which in turn also scatter and disappear completely unexpectedly, just as they appeared.

Many local residents are aware of multiple instances of a flying object resembling an ordinary iron. The flying glowing iron of impressive size first appeared in this area in 1971 and still occasionally visits this magical place.

On the shore of the lake is a village with the same name. Nearby, by the way, the world-famous Stone Age site of Oshkhona was discovered—a place inhabited by seasonal hunters.

With each passing year, this unique lake accumulates unheard-of and inexplicable cases that have occurred with various people. It becomes very difficult for scientists to discern where the truth lies and where the fabricated lies are, as the influx of tourists wishing to see "Nessie" does not subside, and the excitement around this lake only intensifies each year.

Ghosts of the Valley of Fear

The anomalous zone on the southern slopes of the Gissar Range in Tajikistan was discovered by chance. During the search for the Yeti, researchers encountered the entire spectrum of the unknown, including UFOs, teleportation, and what they called, for lack of a better term, "reality shift."

The Night Thief

In September 1974, a team of climbers led by instructor Igor Tatzl spent the night in the valley of the Siam River. In the morning, the people saw giant footprints of someone's bare feet in the snow near the tents.

It was also discovered that items had been dumped out of the backpacks, and some food had disappeared. The uninvited guest was attracted by canned meat, and it tried to bite through the cans, leaving marks of enormous teeth on them. It is clear that such a ruckus must have been accompanied by quite a noise, yet not a single climber woke up. The expedition leader later learned that in such cases, consciousness "turns off" even for awake people.

Tatzl decided to find the mysterious creature and learned that it is known to local mountaineers, who named it "odami-yavoi," meaning "wild man." Every summer, he and his colleagues spent 2-3 months on expeditions in the Pamiro-Alai region.

Igor Frantsevich also learned that the wild man is most often seen near the Valley of Fear (upstream of the river). No local residents dare to venture into this valley. The entire river valley has a sinister reputation.

Impressions of a Psychiatrist

Convinced that something was indeed amiss in the mountains, Tatzl reported this in Moscow. The climber with 35 years of experience was immediately accused of drunkenness and drug use. In response, Igor Frantsevich appointed psychiatrist-narcologist Oleg Rumyantsev as the doctor for the next expedition. The camp was set up at the confluence of Siam and Malyy Igizak.

On the evening of August 9, 1981, Oleg and another expedition participant, Tatyana Neupokoeva, felt a vague anxiety. In a small grove, they saw the huge silhouette of a Yeti. In the hand of the "odami-yavoi," there was a glowing orb.

Its pale rays allowed them to see the creature.

About five minutes after the Yeti disappeared, a stone fell near Tatyana. Looking up, they saw the silhouette of "odami-yavoi" on the mountain. The glowing orb was no longer in its hand. When people appeared on the trail, the creature vanished.

The stones that occasionally fell dangerously close to the witnesses were initially attributed to the Yeti. If the stones were small, it was said he was joking; if large, he was dissatisfied with something. But sometimes the stones fell from a place where there was nowhere to hide.

Even if "odami-yavoi" can become invisible, he cannot hide his scent or walk on soft ground without leaving footprints. Moreover, the accuracy of throwing resembles the antics of a poltergeist.

Movements of objects and sleeping bags with people were also attributed to "odami-yavoi." But this version took a back seat. A mysterious force moved things in closed tents and boxes, stealing items from pockets.

Expedition participants would soar into the air in the tent, feeling invisible hands. Once, a person was thrown to the other side of Siam. In another case, a climber found himself on top of a high rock. He said he had no memory of the ascent.

Real Dreams
Expedition participants experienced very interesting and unusual dreams. Many even insisted that they were not sleeping, but someone was showing them a "movie."

As soon as some glowing orbs flew to the tents, people began to see the same dreams. In particular, during the "Gissar-88" expedition, two such orbs flew into the women's tent, which glowed brightly from the inside but did not catch fire.

After the fantastic "visit," the women were awakened and asked if they felt anything. They replied that they had seen in a dream a large tunnel made in the mountain, as well as some button device that allowed them to visit any corner of the Earth, which the women did, thus visiting the village of the mother of one of the participants in this strange "dream."

UFO Visits

Participants of the expeditions have repeatedly seen UFOs over Siam. On August 22, 1984, according to a journal entry, a glow was observed that represented a pulsating stream of light. Through binoculars, an elongated disc was visible, thickening at its lower part. The disc was about 30m long and up to 10m high. For about half an hour, it hovered above the ground at a height of one to one and a half meters.

Near the UFO, observers noticed a human figure about 190-195cm tall in a tight, shiny jumpsuit.

In the morning, two footprints were found at the site, shaped like a lily. They measured 35 x 18cm, and the stride length was 112cm.

The conclusion made by scientists was as follows: "odami-yavoi" is a victim of aliens who control its brain. They send it on various missions to people. All other anomalies have the same cause—the presence of aliens in the gorge.

Slave of Unknown Forces

According to testimonies from the Gissar region, the Yeti is not just a wild hairy ape. It can appear and disappear, walk on slopes with a negative incline, carry incomprehensible objects, and exert a psychic influence on people. On the other hand, it is foolish and mortal. All local residents say that "odami-yavoi" can be killed or encountered dead after a natural disaster.

Most likely, the hairy monster from the Gissar Range is our not-so-distant relative, possessing developed extrasensory abilities. In the anomalous zone, it becomes a victim of strange forces that control its brain. These forces send "odami-yavoi" on various tasks. The wild animal itself will not contact a human, but the will of its masters proves stronger.

After 1992, research expeditions to this area ceased, and scientists shifted their attention to the Perm Triangle. After the start of the civil war in Tajikistan, the anomalous zone in the south of the Gissar Range was forgotten so thoroughly that it is now hardly mentioned—neither in the press nor on the Internet.

Shaitan Gorge

Writer Alexander Ziborov tells interesting stories about the gorge of the Siam River.

In fact, this gorge is nameless; this is how long-distance truck drivers refer to it. Shaitan Gorge is located in Tajikistan near the highway from Dushanbe to Kulyab, about an hour's drive from the regional center, on the left side if coming from the capital of the republic.

The first time I heard about it was back in 1973 from driver Safar Odinaev of the Dushanbe bus depot of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He himself is a native of Kulyab and often traveled along the aforementioned route. Here’s what he said: “Outwardly, everything seems ordinary, nothing distinguishes it from other places. The road is just a road. Usually, you drive calmly, but sometimes suddenly a horror grips you. And always at the same place. Nothing like this happens elsewhere. Sometimes you see all sorts of things in the sky—fiery spots, dark spheres flying, a column of light hanging—without a beginning or an end, as if it were painted. Sometimes strange people appear, not all of them look like humans.”

Yakub, a colleague of Safar Odinaev, reported: “I also noticed this place. A couple of times, out of nowhere, a strong fear gripped me, making my hair stand on end, but I couldn’t understand the reason. Sometimes, instead of fear, some kind of relaxation or tranquility would come over me. Because of this, cars would veer off the road; Allah saved me. Once, I almost went off the road, but at the very last moment, it was as if I woke up and turned the steering wheel on the highway...

Dancing Fairies

Here, visions are of all kinds. Once, fairy-like beauties appeared before me. Dressed unusually for our region, they gathered on flat ground with green grass and danced and sang. Their music is completely unlike ours, Tajik, or even Russian. It seemed otherworldly; I had never heard anything like it. On another trip, an unknown force compelled me to stop, get out of the car, and walk into Shaitan Gorge... Fortunately, I managed to overcome myself, remembering that this is not an ordinary place, but a very bad one, as warned by familiar drivers. I stepped on the gas and drove away... Later, I told my colleagues in the garage, the oldest and most knowledgeable driver approved: “You did the right thing, Yakub; that place is unclean; it could have ended badly for you; better not to go there at all.”

Driver Djafar told an incredible story: “Right there, at Shaitan Gorge, the engine of my car stalled. I struggled for an hour, unable to do anything. It began to get dark, and I prepared to spend the night. I gathered some firewood and lit a fire. Just after I ate, a girl came towards me from the darkness: slender, like a poplar, and light, not bending a blade of grass. I looked closely and recognized her: Nuri, my fiancée! My head spun, and I lost all reason. We caressed each other, embraced, kissed; she beckoned me to bed, but I managed to stop myself, saying that we shouldn’t do this before the wedding, it’s not good. She persuaded me for a long time, more and more insistently, then got offended and went back into the night... At that moment, it was as if a veil had lifted, the intoxication vanished, and I realized that this was not Nuri, and could not be her, even though she looked incredibly similar—my fiancée had died several months ago... In the morning, the engine started immediately, as if it had never broken down.”

What I heard, of course, greatly intrigued me. Later, I reviewed many books and articles about the Kulyab region in libraries, but found nothing on the topic that interested me. As a journalist, I met with specialists and asked them about Shaitan Gorge, but they just shrugged their shoulders. Not everyone believed me, calling the stories mysticism, tales of illiterate drivers.

In short, I had to turn to drivers again. Whenever possible, I always initiated conversations with them about Shaitan Gorge; some confirmed unusual phenomena in the specified place. According to them, there were several cases where empty cars without drivers and passengers were found, but with completely intact cargo, sometimes very valuable. Where the people went remains a mystery!

In fact, one was found later, but in a completely deranged state, without any signs of reason: mumbling, gesticulating, answering questions with wild nonsense, from which nothing could be understood. He had to be sent to doctors.

Flying objects and strange living beings are regularly seen in that area: sometimes resembling huge insects, sometimes extinct dinosaurs, sometimes fairy-like freaks, sometimes humanoid beings, but with some differences in body structure, limbs, head, and unusual skin color. Some claimed to have seen flying people with wings.

Once, I went on an urgent assignment to Kulyab. The driver Mirzobek was a talkative, cheerful person. We talked the whole way. Suddenly, he darkened, and the muscles on his face twitched. To my puzzled look, he explained:
— Shaitan Gorge. A bad place.

I started looking around, but saw nothing unusual. I told Mirzobek about it. He exclaimed:

— God forbid you see anything!

— Have you seen something here?

— Yes, once. Last year. I reached this place and decided to pass through quickly. Suddenly, I saw an old man (bobo) walking ahead. He had a stick in his hand, walking without even looking back. I stepped on the gas, looking around, hoping not to see anything strange. I looked ahead, and the old man was still in front of me. I pressed the gas again; the engine roared, and my speed became enormous. But he kept walking ahead, the distance not decreasing... I trembled, covered in goosebumps. And then the old man was gone. I looked back—he was gone there too. Then I realized I was still in the same place, at the gorge, as if I had never passed through it. I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a bad place. You should pass by quickly and forget it, don’t remember it, or it will be bad.

That’s the story. I really wanted to visit the most mysterious gorge, but—alas—I never got the chance; journalistic paths did not lead me there (I just rushed past once!). After the well-known events in Tajikistan, there was no time for Shaitan Gorge, and I had to leave the now "sovereign" republic for Russia. So the mystery of the gorge of the Siam River awaits its unraveling.