The Pamir Plateau means "roof of the world" in Persian.

The nomadic "Kyrgyz" live in this plateau, which straddles five countries in Central Asia, in a region that rises over 4,000 meters above sea level.

Although they all share the same Turkic roots, they live widely dispersed throughout the Pamir Plateau, and each group has developed its own unique culture.

Therefore, both clothing and characters vary greatly from group to group.

The people also have a bitter history of political domination by various neighboring countries, including European imperialism in the early 20th century, the Soviet Union, and China.

The Pamir Plateau is extremely cold in winter, and even for the nomadic Kyrgyz, wintering over is not easy.

But the haves give to the have-nots, and they never cease to smile as they help each other through the winter.

How about experiencing the warmth of the Kyrgyz people in the extreme cold of the Pamir Plateau?

Learn more about the situation in Kyrgyzstan in recent years → "Water Crisis in Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan"

(Photo: Daniel Prudek/Shutterstock.com)