UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan is a land-locked Central Asian country covering some 447,000 sq km. It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north and north-west, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan to the south, and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the east. The capital is Tashkent, located close to the northern border with Kazakhstan.

With 26 million people, Uzbekistan, is the most populous country in Central Asia. Ethnic Uzbeks make up 80 % of the population; Russians 5.5 per cent and Tajiks 5 %. The predominant religions are Sunni Muslim (over 85 %) and Russian Orthodox (around 9 %).

Uzbekistan declared its independence from the former Soviet Union on 31 August 1991. The National day - Independence Day - is celebrated on 1 September.

Location

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Geography

Along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.

Capital

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Climate

Mostly mid latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east.

Language

Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%

Monetary Unit

Uzbekistani soum (UZS)

Largest Cities

Tashkent, Namangan, Samarkand, Andizhan, Bukhara, Qarsi, Farghona, Kukon, Urgench, Zhizaq, Angren, Navoi, Olmaliq, Termez, Bekobod

Principal rivers

Amu-Darya, Syr-Darya, Zeravshan

Places to Visit

Tashkent, Samarkand (Penjikent), Bukhara, Khiva, Konye-urgench

Air Ports

Andizhan Airport, Bukhara Airport, Fergana Airport, Karshi Airport, Namangan Airport, Nukus Airport, Samarkand Airport, Tashkent Airport , Urgench Airport