The dam is a massive earthfill wedge across the narrow Vakhsh gorge, and from the access road above the wall the scale is hard to take in: the reservoir stretches back into the mountains for some 70 kilometres, a vivid blue-green strip in an otherwise arid landscape. The view of the dam from below, with the river emerging far down at the base, is genuinely impressive.
The dam itself is a strategic asset and is closed to visitors — photography from close up is officially forbidden, though enforcement is intermittent. The approach roads, viewpoints, and reservoir shoreline are accessible to anyone who drives up. Combine with the drive along the Vakhsh valley between Dushanbe and Khujand.