The Seven Lakes of the Fann Mountains
In the mountains of Tajikistan, a chain of seven lakes changes colour from turquoise to deep blue. Legend says they were seven sisters.
What was reported
Haft Kul, 'Seven Lakes', is a chain of lakes in the Fann Mountains of western Tajikistan, each a different shade, from green to turquoise to dark blue, depending on the light. They lie one above another along a valley, linked by a river.
A local legend tells of an old man whose seven daughters were taken away by force. Searching for them, he wept so bitterly that each of his tears became a lake. Another version says the sisters turned into the lakes to escape a cruel ruler.
Explanations offered
The lakes were formed by landslides and glaciers damming the river. Their colours come from minerals and the depth of the water. They're a popular destination for hikers.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- Haft Kul, Sughd, Tajikistan
- Witnesses
- Tajik folklore
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.