Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, means 'Monday' in the Tajik language, a name derived from the fact that it grew out of a village that held a popular Monday market. Tajikistan is the most mountainous country in Central Asia, with 93% of its territory covered by mountains, including the Pamir Range, often called the 'Roof of the World.' The city is home to the Dushanbe Flagpole, which at 165 meters was once the tallest in the world. Tajikistan shares a long, rugged border with Afghanistan and has deep cultural ties to Persia, with Tajik being a variety of the Persian language. The country is famous for its prehistoric sites and the Pamir Highway, one of the highest and most spectacular mountain roads on Earth, which attracts adventurous travelers from around the globe.