Shirkent Historical-Natural Park

Shirkent was made a historical and natural park in 1991 to protect a set of Jurassic dinosaur trackways preserved on rock surfaces that later tectonics tilted up towards the vertical, so the prints run up the slabs rather than across a floor. Several hundred prints have been recorded in the valley. The park also covers walnut and juniper woodland, waterfalls and the remains of old mine workings and settlements. The park covers three valleys running down from the Hissar range, and the trackway sites are spread between them rather than gathered in one place.

What you actually see

• The dinosaur trackways - Jurassic prints on rock beds tilted towards the vertical.
• The tilted slabs - the tectonics that stood the old ground surfaces on end.
• The valley woodland - walnut and juniper on the slopes.
• The old workings - mine and settlement remains in the valley.

When to go

April to October is the season. Spring brings water to the falls. Snow closes the upper valley in winter.

Honest expectations

The trackways take a guide to find and interpret; there is no signage. The road in is rough and the walking is steep. Facilities are non-existent.

Nearby

Tursunzoda is south, and Dushanbe is east.