A Lake Born of Catastrophe

Lake Sarez – The Sleeping Giant of the Pamirs
Location: Upper Bartang Valley, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast
Elevation: Approximately 3,000 meters above sea level

Hidden deep within the rugged terrain of the eastern Pamirs lies Lake Sarez, a vast high-altitude reservoir created not by human hands, but by the powerful forces of nature. In February 1911, a devastating earthquake – estimated at magnitude 7 on the Richter scale – struck the heart of the Pamirs. The tremor triggered an enormous landslide that swept down the Muzkol slope, burying the small village of Usoy in an instant. Nearly 90 residents were lost, likely without ever knowing the cause of their fate.

The landslide formed a colossal natural dam across the Murghob River. In the wake of the disaster, the newly created barrier began to hold back river water. Within a year, this growing body of water inundated the nearby village of Sarez, and in its memory, the lake was named.

Dimensions and Physical Features

Today, Lake Sarez stretches nearly 55 kilometers in length and up to 3.3 kilometers at its widest point. On average, it is about 1.5 kilometers wide, with an astonishing maximum depth of around 500 meters. The lake covers approximately 80 square kilometers, and its cold, clear waters maintain a temperature between 4°C and 6°C. The reservoir holds an estimated 17 cubic kilometers of fresh water.

At the heart of the lake lies the immense Usoy dam – the natural barrier formed during the 1911 landslide. Towering roughly 570 meters from the lake’s bottom and rising 67 meters above the water level, the dam spans about 5 kilometers in length and has an average width of 3.2 kilometers. It is considered one of the largest natural dams in the world, with an estimated mass of 6 billion tons.

Small underground channels allow water to slowly seep beneath the dam, forming streams that come together downstream to become the Bartang River – a wild, forceful river that cuts through a dramatic stone gorge before joining the Panj and eventually the Amu Darya.

A Potential Threat or a Stable Wonder?

While Lake Sarez is breathtakingly beautiful, it has also long been the subject of concern. The central question is whether the Usoy dam is truly stable. If the dam were to collapse or overflow, the resulting flood would unleash billions of tons of water along the Bartang, Panj, and even the Amu Darya valleys, devastating communities far downstream. Various experts have proposed using the water for hydroelectric power or irrigation to reduce this risk.

On the other hand, many scientists argue that the dam is geologically sound, a stable formation unlikely to fail without extreme provocation. Over the decades, the lake has been the focus of numerous Soviet and international studies, though no unanimous conclusion has ever been reached. In the 1950s, one scientific expedition even explored the area in search of the elusive Yeti, a legend tied to the remote Pamir wilderness.

International Monitoring and Risk Mitigation

Given the potential for catastrophic flooding, the Tajik government appealed for international support in assessing the risks. Since 2000, the Lake Sarez Risk Mitigation Project has been in effect. This initiative has established early warning systems, monitoring stations, and emergency preparedness programs for local communities. Training has been provided to help residents respond effectively in case of disaster, and scientific monitoring continues to evaluate the dam’s long-term stability.

In 2004, divers conducted underwater surveys of the dam for the first time, adding new data to help assess its condition.

Reaching Lake Sarez

Visiting this remote and awe-inspiring lake is possible but challenging. The most direct way is via chartered helicopter. For those preferring an overland adventure, the route includes travel by vehicle to the Bartang Valley village of Barchadiv, followed by a demanding trek on foot. An alternative and equally scenic approach begins from the village of Langar, crossing the high-altitude Langar Pass (4,620 meters) and descending to the upper Ghunt River, eventually arriving at the Irkht Bay on the lake’s shore.

Due to the sensitive nature of the site and safety concerns, all visits to Lake Sarez must be coordinated through the Ministry of Emergencies and Civil Defence of Tajikistan. It is strongly advised to arrange expeditions through local tour agencies experienced in navigating the rugged and infrastructure-poor terrain of the Bartang Valley. Independent travel in this region is risky and not recommended.