Vorukh

Vorukh

Ворух (Russian and Tajik)
Vorukh Ворух (Russian and Tajik)
Jamoat
	Map showing the three main exclaves in Kyrgyzstan. Vorukh is in blue on the bottom left,
	Vorukh Location in Tajikistan
	Coordinates: 39°51′12″N 70°34′37″E / 39.85333°N 70.57694°E
Country	Tajikistan
Region	Sughd Region
City	Isfara
Area
• Total	96.7 km2 (37.3 sq mi)
Population (2022)
• Total	45,000
Time zone	UTC+5 (TJT)
Official languages	Russian (Interethnic); Tajik (State);

Vorukh (Russian and Tajik: Ворух; Sogdian: Wārōx) is a jamoat in northern Tajikistan that forms part of the city of Isfara in Sughd Region. As of 2022^[update], the jamoat had a total population of 45.000.^[2]

History and territorial conflicts

Map headed 'Stalinabad' (Dushanbe) including Vorukh (square XK, top right).

Vorukh is the name of a village and one of two exclaves of Tajikistan within the Batken Province of Kyrgyzstan. There are three Tajik enclaves (including the Sarvan exclave surrounded by Uzbekistan), which were products of several border adjustments during the Stalin administration.

Due to the inherent territorial restrictions of the exclave, violent conflicts over land ownership, access to pasture, and shared water resources have become more common, as logistical complications within this densely populated and impoverished region have also given rise to economic concern.

The location of the border of the enclave is disputed by the Tajik and Kyrgyz governments.^[3] In April 2013 an argument between Vorukh residents and Kyrgyz labourers escalated into a fight, ultimately involving several hundred people, when Vorukh residents objected to the building of a new road that would bypass the enclave. In May 2013 Kyrgyzstan and Tajik officials met to address the ongoing tensions.^[4] In April and May 2021 the region once again brought tensions between the two countries, and at least 31 people were killed in an ongoing fighting.^[5] Brief clashes also occurred there in January 2022.^[6]

Climate

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as dry-summer continental (Dsa).^[7]

Climate data for Vorukh
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	0.0 (32.0)	2.1 (35.8)	8.6 (47.5)	17.0 (62.6)	22.4 (72.3)	27.9 (82.2)	30.7 (87.3)	29.7 (85.5)	24.8 (76.6)	17.0 (62.6)	8.5 (47.3)	2.3 (36.1)	15.9 (60.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−4.2 (24.4)	−2.1 (28.2)	4.1 (39.4)	11.4 (52.5)	16.0 (60.8)	20.6 (69.1)	23.0 (73.4)	21.8 (71.2)	16.7 (62.1)	10.3 (50.5)	3.6 (38.5)	−1.5 (29.3)	10.0 (49.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−8.3 (17.1)	−6.3 (20.7)	−0.3 (31.5)	5.9 (42.6)	9.7 (49.5)	13.3 (55.9)	15.4 (59.7)	13.9 (57.0)	8.7 (47.7)	3.7 (38.7)	−1.3 (29.7)	−5.2 (22.6)	4.1 (39.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	53 (2.1)	51 (2.0)	79 (3.1)	71 (2.8)	69 (2.7)	21 (0.8)	11 (0.4)	4 (0.2)	6 (0.2)	40 (1.6)	39 (1.5)	51 (2.0)	495 (19.4)
Source: Climate-Data.org (altitude: 1379m)^[7]