The Eye of the Pamir

Hidden on the Pamir Plateau is a breathtaking wonder, the volcanic group. This magical and unique place seems like a mysterious ceremony bestowed upon the world by nature. The witnesses to this ceremony are the various-sized volcanic craters, which resemble clear eyes gazing at the sky, revealing the vicissitudes and wisdom of thousands of years. Muztagh is located at the intersection of the Kunlun and Tianshan mountain ranges, the westernmost point of China, the last place where the sun lingers on the Chinese mainland, and also a village of the Kyrgyz people. A local proverb goes: 'Seven big river beaches, ninety-nine bends, you can't wear out your butt, you can't reach Muztagh Beach.' Reaching Muztagh requires great effort, but the harder a place is to reach, the more beautiful the scenery. The Muztagh volcanic crater, officially named the 'Karatyurek Volcanic Group,' is known as the 'Eye of the Pamir,' consisting of several dozen scattered dormant volcanic craters, very spectacular. It formed 1500 years ago, is the only highest altitude volcanic crater in Xinjiang, and is also one of the most typical volcanic craters in the world. Many people describe the Muztagh volcanic crater as a 'fantasy land of ice and fire' because it is surrounded by highland wetlands, forming glaciers, glacial lakes, ice caves, and many other ice-related landscapes, while the volcanic crater was constantly erupting fire thousands of years ago, the coexistence of volcanoes and glaciers in one place is truly breathtaking. The volcanic geological relics here are important evidence for studying the earth's evolutionary history and have significant research value for scientists. At the same time, the ecological environment here is also very unique, attracting numerous animals and plants to inhabit and thrive here. Muztagh Volcanic Crater