Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

area:	447,400sq km (172,740sq mi)
population:	24,449,000
population:	Tashkent (2,117,500)
ethnic groups:	Uzbek 71%, sian 8%, Tajik 5%, Kazak 4%, Tatar 2%, Kara-Kalpak 2%, Crimean Tatar, Korean, Kyrgyz, Ukrainian, Turkmen
languages:	Uzbek (official)
religions:	Islam
currency:	Som

Republic in central Asia; the capital is Tashkent.

Land and climate

The republic comprises plains in the w and highlands in the e. The main rivers, Amu Darya and Syr Darya, drain into the Aral Sea. So much water was diverted from these rivers to irrigate farmland that the Aral Sea shrank from 66,900sq km (25,830sq mi) in 1960 to 33,642sq km (12,989sq mi) in 1993. The dried-up lake area has become desert, like much of the rest of the country. Uzbekistan has a continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The w is extremely arid, with an average annual rainfall of c.200mm (8in), but parts of the highlands in the e have three times as much rain. Grassy steppe occurs in wetter areas, with forests on the mountain slopes.

History and politics

Turkic people first settled in the area c.1500 years ago. Islam was introduced in the 7th century ad. Mongols invaded in the 13th century, and in the late 14th century Tamerlane ruled a great empire from Samarkand. Turkic Uzbek people conquered the region in the 16th century, and gradually the area divided into states (khanates). Russia controlled the area in the 19th century. Following the Russian Revolution (1917), the communists took over, establishing the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924. Under communism, all aspects of Uzbek life were regulated; religious worship was discouraged, but education, health, housing, and transport services improved. The communists also increased cotton production, but caused great environmental damage in the process. In the 1980s, when the Soviet Union introduced reforms, the Uzbeks demanded greater freedoms. In 1990, the Uzbek government unilaterally declared itself sovereign. In 1991, following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan became independent. Uzbekistan retained links with Russia through membership of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Islam Karimov, leader of the People's Democratic Party (formerly the Communist Party), became president at elections in December 1991. In 1992–93, many opposition leaders were arrested. In order to avoid internal disruption, Karimov asserted that economic reforms would be slow. Elections in 1994–95 saw a sweeping victory for the People's Democratic Party. A 1995 referendum extended President Karimov's term in office until 2000, when he was re-elected. Uzbekistan stands accused of widespread human rights' violations. In 2001, Uzbekistan allowed the US to use its airbases in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

Economy

It is a lower-middle income developing country (2000 GDP per capita, US$2400). The government controls most economic activity. Uzbekistan produces coal, copper, gold, oil and natural gas, while manufactures include agricultural machinery, chemicals and textiles. Agriculture is important, with cotton the main crop. Other crops include fruits, rice, and vegetables; cattle, sheep, and goats are raised. Uzbekistan's exports include cotton, gold, textiles, chemicals, and fertilizers.

Political map

Physical map

Websites

http://www.freenet.uz/; http://www.tashkent.org/uzland