DUSHANBE, February 26, 214, Asia-Plus – The CIS Parliamentary Assembly has declared 2014 the Year of Tourism and published the list of sights within the CIS area.

The Fann Mountains are the only tourism sight in Tajikistan that was inscribed on the Pearls of the Commonwealth (CIS) List.

The Round Square in Astana (Kazakhstan), Old Orhey (historical and archeological complex in Moldova), Sochi (Russia), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Guri Emir (mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane) in Samarqand (Uzbekistan), Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (a historic Orthodox Christian monastery) in Kyiv (Ukraine), Peterhof (Russia), Baku Boulevard also known as National Park (Azerbaijan), Brest Fortress in Belarus, and Khor Virap Monastery in Armenia were also inscribed as the Pearls of the Commonwealth.

The Fann Mountains (also known as the Fanns) are part of the western Pamir-Alay mountain system and are located in Tajikistan''s Sughd province between the Zarafshan Range to the north and the Gissar Range to the south.  In the east-west direction they extend from Fandarya River to Archimaydan River, and the cluster of Marguzor lakes west of Archimaydan is also included in the Fanns.

The Fanns boast about a hundred peaks, with several rising to altitudes of more than 5000 meters and relative elevations of up to 1500 meters.  The highest point in Fann Mountains is Chimtarga peak (5489 m). Other 5000 m peaks are Bodkhona (5138 m), Chapdara (5050 m), Big Hansa (5306 m), Little Hansa (5031 m), Zamok (Castle, 5070 m), Mirali (5132 m), and Energy (5120 m).

There are many lakes in the Fanns.  The best known are Alaudin Lakes in the Chapdara River valley, Kulikalon Lakes on the northern slope of Chimtarga peak, Allo Lake, and the most outstanding of all, Iskanderkul Lake.