Difference between revisions of "Uzbekistan"
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
[[Category:Asian Countries]] | [[Category:Asian Countries]] | ||
[[Category:Former Soviet Countries]] | [[Category:Former Soviet Countries]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Dictatorships]] | ||
Revision as of 01:59, June 25, 2007
Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia, a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and a former Soviet Socialist Republic. Its capitol is Tashkent. The president is Islom Karimov.
Uzbekistan shares borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The ethnic populations of Uzbekistan include Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tadjiks, Russians, Tatars and Koreans. The most common languages are Uzbek, Russian, Tadjik and Karakalpak.
It is a very repressive country accused of various human rights violations including boiling people alive [1][2].
Notable Features
Aral Sea
In the north west tip of Uzbekistan lies the Aral Sea. The largest city in this area is Nukus which was described in the Lonely Planet guide as the saddest place on earth. This is due to the rapidly shrinking water supply of the Aral Sea. The sea is also heavily polluted due to weapons testing.
Ferghana Valley
The most fertile and heavily populated area of Uzbekistan. Prominent cities include the historical city Kokand that was once the capital of the Kokand Dynasty and Ferghana, a very Russian city.
Ancient cities
Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are famous ancient cities of Uzbekistan.
