TAJIKISTAN IS A LANDLOCKED COUNTRY IN CENTRAL ASIA. IT’S KNOWN FOR RUGGED MOUNTAINS, POPULAR FOR HIKING AND CLIMBING. TAJIKISTAN IS BORDERED BY AFGHANISTAN TO THE SOUTH, UZBEKISTAN TO THE WEST, KYRGYZSTAN TO THE NORTH, AND CHINA TO THE EAST. THE TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS OF THE TAJIK PEOPLE INCLUDE PRESENT-DAY TAJIKISTAN AS WELL AS PARTS OF AFGHANISTAN AND UZBEKISTAN. TAJIKISTAN IS 93% MOUNTAINOUS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD AND ABOUT 2% OF THE COUNTRY’S AREA IS COVERED BY LAKES. TAJIKISTAN’S KEY NATURAL RESOURCES INCLUDE PETROLEUM, GOLD, URANIUM, SILVER, TUNGSTEN, ZINC, AND LEAD. THE COUNTRY ALSO HAS NATURAL GAS, OIL AND COAL RESERVES AND MORE THAN 400 MINERAL DEPOSITS.