Enclaves Of The World

The village of Sarvan (or Sarvak, Sarvaksoi and Sarvaki-bolo) is surrounded by Uzbekistan territory and is located in the Fergana and Isfara valleys region where Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan meet. The enclave covers a valley with an area of about 8 km². The principal economic activity is agriculture, particularly cotton.
This enclave appeared following the disintegration of the USSR in 1991.

Map of Kyrgyzstan showing the location of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan enclaves

Sarvan detail        (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Sarvan detail

The Sarvan Valley

Two Tajikistan enclaves are found within Kyrgyzstan territory. Both are located in the Fergana and Isfara valleys region. These enclaves appeared following the disintegration of the USSR in 1991.

The village of Vorukh is located south of the mountain Ak-Tash (3 058 m). It covers an area of 130 (or 97) km² and has a population between 23,000 and 29,000. 95% of these are Tajiks and 5% Kyrgyz.

A small settlement near the Kyrgyz railway station of Kairagach is referred to as Western Qalacha by the Kyrgyzstan Development Gateway website. It is located next to the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in the Leilek district. The enclave covers less than 1 km².

The area’s economy is based on agriculture and gardening (irrigated by the Karavshin River), while a substantial part of the male population works in markets in Russia selling fruit and vegetables. Vorukh experienced ethnic tensions related to land and water between Tajiks and Kyrgyz from nearby Samarkandek in 1989, 1993 and 1999.

  Map of Kyrgyzstan showing the location of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan enclaves

Vorukh detail        (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Vorukh detail

Photograph showing entry to the Vorukh valley

Western Qalacha detail

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There are four Uzbekistani exclaves located within Kyrgyzstan territory in the Fergana Valley region where Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan meet. These enclaves appeared following the disintegration of the USSR in 1991 and coincided with territorial disputes and disturbances. This prompted the Uzbek army to placed land mines around the enclaves.

Due to difficult mountainous terrain and complicated political geography, the Kyrgyzstan border with Uzbekistan is heavily guarded and often closed. Kyrgyz-Uzbek agreements in late 2000, however, led in the removal of two checkpoints in the Sokh enclave and the opening of a 'green transit road' between Pulgon-Kadamjai and Markaz on the road to Osh. In 2004 Uzbekistan announced plans to remove minefields in the vicinity of the Sokh and Shakhimardan enclaves.

Increasing fortification of the border with Tajikistan is nonetheless foreseen. According to the budgetary committee of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the government has recently spent US $3.3 million to install fourteen new border posts. 1,300 border guards are employed.

Sokh covers 325 (or 236) km² and has a population of 42,800 (1993), although some estimates go as high as 70,000. The racial mix is 99% Tajiks and the rest Kyrgyz. With almost no ethnic Uzbeks, Uzbekistan’s claim over the territory continues to be challenged by Kyrgyzstan. The area’s economy is mainly agriculturally based and relies upon rice irrigated by the Sokh River.

Shakhimardan (or Shah-i-Mardan) is located close to the Alay mountains in a narrow fertile valley where rivers Ak-Su and Kara-Su meet to form the rapid Shakhimardansai. The enclave covers 90 km² and has a population of 5,100 (1993). The racial mix is 91% Uzbeks and 9% Kyrgyz. The area’s economy relies on agriculture irrigated from the Ak-Su River, highland animal husbandry and mountain tourism. Pilgrims have also visited to see the holy Lake Kurban-Kul and the ancient dwelling of a hermit.

Qalacha (or Kalacha, or possibly Chong-Kara) is a tiny territory located north of Sokh. The enclave covers less than 1 km² and possibly has no inhabitants.

Dzhangail (or possibly Khalmion) is a very small territory located north-west of Shakhimardan. It covers less than 1 km².

According to the Kyrgyzstan Development Gateway website there is another Uzbekistan enclave in Kyrgyzstan. It covers 40 hectares of arable land close to the Kyrgyz village of Tayan south of the Sokh enclave.

  Map showing the location of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan enclaves

Sokh detail

View of Sokh Valley

                                                 Shakhimardan detail       (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Shakhimardan detail

Shakhimardan photo

Shakhimardan photo

Kalacha or Chong-Kara detail      (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Kalacha or Chong-Kara detail

Dzhangail detail        (Source: Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Dzhangail detail

A small Kyrgyz village called Barak (or Barak-ail) is located in the Fergana Valley region where Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan meet. The village is surrounded by Uzbek territory and located between the cities of Margilan and Fergana. Barak does not seem to be found on any maps, but is referred to in several official papers.

This enclave appeared following the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. The population is predominately Muslim and the economy is based upon agriculture particularly cotton. 

Barak-ail of Kara-Su district of Kyrgyzstan is an exclave completely surrounded by Uzbek territory. It is settled by 627 citizens, all of them are Kyrgyz people. In order to go to Barak, you must pass the four kilometre zone of the Uzbek land: here the old way is situated, but near the Uzbek border this way is dug up so, that nobody can pass. After 250 meters travellers are “hospitably” met by the Uzbek armed frontier guard. (From Jumagulov Sultan, Kyrgyz department of BBC)

  Map of Kyrgyzstan showing the location of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan enclaves

Barak area detail       (from Jan Krogh’s Geosite)

Barak area detail showing likely location

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