2. UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan borders the Aral Sea. The country's two
largest rivers are the Amu Darya, which originates in
Tajikistan, and the Syrdariya, which originates in
Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan is dominated by vast, dry desert plains
which occupy about 80% of the country. Its most
fertile region is the Fergana Valley, which covers about
21,440 square km. The Fergana Valley is directly east of
the Qizilqum Desert and surrounded by mountain
ranges to the north, south, and east. Uzbekistan's
highest mountains are in the east and have an
elevation of about 4500m.
3. The Aral Sea was a lake lying
between Kazakhstan(Aktobe andKyzylorda provinces)
in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous
region of Uzbekistan, in the south. The name roughly
translates as "Sea of Islands", referring to about 1,534
islands that once dotted its waters; in Old Turkic
aralmeans "island" and "thicket".
5. The Amu Darya, also called Amu River, is a major
river in Central Asia. It is formed by the junction of
the Vakhsh and Panj rivers and flows into the Aral Sea.
In ancient times, the river was regarded as the
boundary between Greater Iran and Turan.
8. The culture of Uzbekistan has a wide mix of ethnic
groups and cultures, with the Uzbeks being the majority
group. In 1995, about 71% of Uzbekistan's population was
Uzbek. The chief minority groups were Russians
(8.4%), Tajiks (officially 5%, but believed to be much
higher), Kazaks (4.1%), Tatars (2.4%), and Karakalpaks
(2.1%), and other minority groups
include Armenians and Koryo-saram. It is said however
that the number of non-indigenous people living in
Uzbekistan is decreasing as Russians and other minority
groups slowly leave and Uzbeks return from other parts of
the former Soviet Union.
10. Customs and tradions of the Uzbek people have been
forming for centuries. They are very distinctive, impressive
and different, dating back to different epochs and religions.
Initial formation of Uzbek culture dates back to the 6th-
7th centuries BC, by that time nomadic tribes shifted to a
settled way of life in the valleys of Amu Darya, Syr Darya
and Zarafshan and founded first states. Former nomads
founded settlements and cities, bringing with them
customs and traditions based on ancient cults of their
ancestors. Territory of modern Uzbekistan, Transoxiana,
being parts of ancient states – Khorezm, Sogdiana, Bactria
- became the basis for formation of culture, which
subsequently became the basis of Uzbek culture.
12. Tashkent is a capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the
most populated city in Central Asia, a political,
economic, cultural and scientific center of the country.
According to official data, the population of Tashkent
is about 2, 3 million people. This modern city is
located in the north-eastern part of the country, in the
foothills of the western Tyan Shan, valley of Chirchik,
at the height of 440-480 meters above sea level. The
history of modern Tashkent counts more than 2500
years.
13. Bible Verse
“So whether you eat or drink
DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”
1 Corintians 10:31