More about Uzbekistan
Ayaz-Kala in the Kyzylkum Desert. Ayaz-Kala is an archaeological site that consists of three mud fortresses which were built between the 4th century BCE to the 7th century CE. The fortresses once guarded the frontiers of the ancient Khorezm civilization, an ancient kingdom that thrived along the Amu Darya River.
Photo: Nicolas Rénac
Geography of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan's landscape is dominated by dry, flat to gently rolling desert terrain, with areas of steppe, sand dunes, and sparse vegetation. The vast
Kyzylkum Desert spans much of the country. Only around 10% of the country is intensively cultivated, mainly in irrigated river valleys and scattered oases.
Uzbekistan is a major producer of cotton, gold, and uranium, and holds significant reserves of natural gas.
Desert
The
Kyzylkum Desert ("Red Sand" in Turkic) is a vast, extremely dry desert, mainly located in Uzbekistan. It also extends into Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The desert's landscape features extensive sand dunes, stony plains, and isolated oases. Its climate is characterized by extreme temperatures, with hot summers and cold winters, and sparse annual rainfall.
Mountains
The eastern and southeastern edges of Uzbekistan are fringed by mountains, including the
Tian Shan and
Gissar mountain ranges.
Uzbekistan's highest point
The country's highest point is
Khazret Sultan, reaching 4,643 meters (15,233 ft). The mountain is located in the southern
Gissar Mountains near the border with Tajikistan, northwest of
Dushanbe.
The
Tian Shan Mountains are a massive Central Asian mountain range, spilling into eastern Uzbekistan. Home to rugged peaks and alpine valleys.
Rivers of Uzbekistan
Main rivers are the Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshan River.
In contrast to the dry lowlands, Uzbekistan's main rivers, the
Amu Darya and
Syr Darya, provide vital water for agriculture. The Amu Darya forms part of the southern border with Turkmenistan and flows northwest toward the remnants of the
Aral Sea. The
Syr Darya crosses the eastern
Fergana Valley before curving northwest across the steppe. These rivers feed a network of canals, sustaining oases and irrigated farmland in an otherwise arid landscape.
Looking at the Aral Sea in Moynaq, Uzbekistan. The former bottom of the sea is now a dry steppe due to desertification.
Photo: Gilad Rom
Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was once a vast inland lake in Central Asia, shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
At its peak in the 1960s, the Aral Sea covered 68,000 km² (26,300 sq mi) — roughly the
size of
Ireland.
Now, the sea has largely dried up due to decades of water diversion projects initiated during the
Soviet era. Rivers that once fed the sea, the
Amu Darya and
Syr Darya, were redirected to irrigate cotton fields in the center of Central Asia.
Once-thriving fishing villages now lie in a dusty desert. The eastern basin within Uzbekistan has shrunk into a salt-crusted plain known as the
Aralkum Desert. The desert has become a habitat for wildlife, including the critically endangered Saiga antelope. The
Aralkum National Nature Park was established in March 2022 in the Muynak district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
[UZINFO]
The drying up of the Aral Sea is now considered one of the most dramatic environmental disasters in the world. It is a stark reminder of unsustainable resource use.
[RFF]
Major Cities of Uzbekistan
Aerial view of the Shahids memorial complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Photo: Murodbek Yusupov
Uzbek cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva were important stops along the ancient Silk Road, that connected China and the Orient with Europe.
The stunning Registan Square in Samarkand with its three madrasahs. From left to right: Ulugh Beg Madrasah, Tilya-Kori Madrasah and Sher-Dor Madrasah.
Photo: Kraftabbas
- Tashkent
Tashkent is Uzbekistan's capital, a modern metropolis with Soviet-era architecture and a vibrant cultural scene. The country's largest city is located in a fertile oasis near the Chirchik River. It is a major industrial hub and the country's political, economic, and transport center.
- Samarkand
Samarkand is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. The city was a major Silk Road stop-over and capital of Timurid Empire. It is famous for its stunning Islamic architecture and historic sites, such as the madrasahs on Registan Square, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis.
- Bukhara
Bukhara is a historic city in south-central Uzbekistan, with more than 2,000 years of continuous settlement. Once a thriving oasis on the ancient Silk Road, it became one of the Islamic world's leading centers of learning, culture, and commerce during the early Middle Ages. The city is known for its elegant madrasas, mosques, and caravanserais. The city reached its cultural peak under the Samanid and later the Timurid dynasties.
Today, the Historic Centre of Bukhara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Landmarks like the Ark Fortress, the towering Kalon Minaret, and the Lyab-i Hauz ensemble give visitors a glimpse into a city that once stood at the crossroads of empires and ideas.
- Khiva
Khiva is known for the walled inner city of Itchan Kala. A town in the Kyzylkum Desert, filled with minarets, palaces, and madrasahs. A living museum of Khorezmian culture, a blend of Turkic and Persian influences.
A view from the Islom-Khoja minaret on Khiva, an oasis city with ancient walls, minarets and unique clay buildings.
Photo: Teo Romera
- Andijan
Andijan is located in the fertile Fergana Valley. The city is an industrial hub and one of the oldest urban centers in the region. Andijan is known as the birthplace of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire.
- Namangan
Namangan is another Uzbek city in the Fergana Valley. Namangan is known for its gardens, textile industry, and traditional crafts. In recent years the city has grown rapidly.
- Nukus
Nukus is the capital of the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. The city is known for the Savitsky Museum, which houses one of the world's best collections of Soviet avant-garde art.
- Navoi
Navoi is a center for mining and industry, especially known for gold and uranium. The city is also home to the Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone (FIEZ).
- Termez
Termez is located in the far south near the Afghan border. It is one of Uzbekistan's oldest cities. Termez served as a key Buddhist center during the Kushan Empire, with archaeological sites like Fayaz Tepe revealing its ancient spiritual and cultural life. Today, it's a quiet border town with a rich past, holding strategic and historical significance.
- Qarshi
Qarshi is a regional center in the south, important for natural gas and agriculture. Historically linked to Persian and Turkic civilizations.