Isfara

Isfara Исфара Boston Isfara
A sign welcoming travellers to Isfara
Isfara
Coordinates: 40°07′N 70°38′E / 40.117°N 70.633°E / 40.117; 70.633
Country	Tajikistan
Province	Sughd
District	Isfara
Incorporated	1933
Government
• Mayor	Dilshod Rasulzoda
Area
• Total	832 km2 (321 sq mi)
Elevation	863 m (2,831 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	40,600
Postcode	735920
Website	http://isfara.tj

Isfara (Tajik: Исфара, Persian: اسفره‎‎) is a city in Sughd Province in northern Tajikistan, situated on the border with Kyrgyzstan. It has a population of 40,600 (2008 est.). The city is the capital of the Isfara district.

Isfara is one of the oldest ancient towns in Central Asia, its first name was Asbara. The town is mentioned in Tabari's history from the 10th century, when it was an important stop on the northern branch of the Silk Road. Around 20 km south of the town centre in Churku village, the mausoleum Hazrati Shoh Mausoleum, is carved from wood, partly dating back to the 8th century, a structure that is unique in Central Asia. By the 11th and 12th centuries Isfara had a developed economy, and it was considered by Babur (1482-1530) to be one of the region's main towns. The 16th century saw the construction of large public buildings, notably mosques and medreseh. In the 17th century Isfara was part of the Kokand Khanate.

The population of Isfara is mostly Tajik.

Isfara is situated near the border junction of three independent states Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, at a height of 863m above sea level. Its territory is 832 km².

The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type classification for Isfara is "Bwk" or a Tropical and Subtropical Desert Climate. The average temperature is 11.8°C (53.2°F) with the warmest month being July with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F) and the coldest month being January with an average temperature of -2.7°C (27.1°F). The average amount of precipitation is 544.6mm (21.4") and there are on average 74.3 days of participation.