Influence of contemporary morphogenetic processes on the relief of north-western Pamirs

The paper deals with one of more important elements of natural environment of high mountains - relief and its contemporary changes caused by morphogenetic processes. The area of research is situated in north-western part of the Pamirs. The background of the research is the description of selected elements of the natural environment which played an important role in its morphogenesis. Complex geology, high tectonic and seismic activity, numerous glaciers, extreme climatic conditions, scarce vegetation or lack of it - all these are selected features of natural environment influencing the character of the relief in the researched area. The contemporary shape of land surface of north-western Pamirs is the effect of the Pleistocene and Holocene transformation of Tertiary, or partially older, relief. Evolution of land surface in the mentioned periods took place as a result of numerous morphogenetic processes: gravitational, glacial, fluvial, aeolian, nival, cryogenic and pluvial. In the researched area, processes which lead to a "sharpening" of forms and an increase of relative height are stili taking place