48 Facts About Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbek zbekiston, or zbekistan Respublikasi, is a Central Asian country.

Uzbekistan is a former Soviet republic in Central Asia.

It is famous for its mosques, mausoleums, and other sites associated with the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that connected China and the Mediterranean.

The Registan, a plaza bordered by three ornate, mosaic-covered religious schools dating from the 15th and 17th centuries, is a landmark of Islamic architecture in Samarkand, a major city on the route.

What is now known as Uzbekistan was once part of the ancient Persian Empire and was conquered by Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C.

Invading Arab forces dominated the area during the eighth century, converting nomadic Turkic tribes to Islam.

Ghengis Khan and the Mongols conquered the region from the Seljuk Turks in the thirteenth century.

The territory became a part of Tamerlane the Great's and his successors' empire. This continued until the sixteenth century.

The Uzbeks invaded and merged with the other inhabitants of what is now Uzbekistan in the early sixteenth century, dividing it into the separate principalities of the khanates (city-states) Khiva, Kokand, and Bukhara.

The city-states resisted valiantly, but were eventually defeated by Russian expansion into the region in the mid-nineteenth century.

Following World War I, the population put up a valiant fight against the Red Army, but they were eventually defeated. In 1924, the socialist Uzbek Republic was established. In 1925, the country gained independence as the Uzbekistan Soviet Socialist Republic.

Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991 and established itself as a constitutional republic.

From 1991 until his death in 2016, President Islam Karimov ruled the country. He was widely held responsible for serious violations of basic human rights (tortures and executions).

Uzbekistan held its first election since 1991 in 2016.

Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, with the majority of the population living in rural areas.

The economic trend shows that city dwellers earn twice as much as their rural counterparts.

Despite an 8% increase in GDP in 2015, Uzbekistan remains one of Asia's least developed and poorest countries.

The majority of the population are ethnic Uzbeks who speak Uzbek, the country's official language. Russian is the second most widely spoken language after English. Sunni Muslims constitute 88 percent of the population, despite the fact that they are secular rather than religious Muslims.

The country is the world's second-largest exporter of cotton and the fifth-largest producer. Other exports include gold, oil, natural gas, and uranium. The country is rich in resources, but the money has traditionally gone to the president and his governmental ruling class.

Uzbekistan's food is very diverse, as it has been a historic crossroads for centuries as part of various ancient empires. Its origins can be traced back to Iranian, Arab, Indian, Russian, and Chinese cuisine.

The national dish is palov or plov. Legend has it that Alexander the Great's cooks invented this dish, which is made of mutton, rice, onions, and grated carrots. Different regions of the country add their own spin to the dish, such as pumpkins, peppers, or dried tomatoes.

Huchvara is stuffed with onions and mutton and is similar to ravioli (Russian pelmeni). Manti is a dumpling with the same filling. Somsa (samosa) is a pastry pocket filled with meat, pumpkin, or potatoes.

Lagman is a thick soup made with meat, spices, potatoes, pasta, and vegetables (usually 50 ingredients); mastava is a rice soup with carrots, tomatoes, onions, peas, and even wild plums; and shurpa is a soup made with fatty meat (usually mutton) and fresh vegetables.

A master Uzbek chef is said to be capable of cooking enough palov/plov in one caldron to feed a thousand men.

Even if it's safely in a bag, lepioshka (bread) is never placed upside down (it brings bad luck) or on the ground.

The traditional Uzbek bread, known as 'obi non' or simply 'non,' is flat and round, and it is always torn by hand rather than sliced with a knife. It is also never discarded.

Before embarking on a journey, a family member must eat a small piece of Uzbek bread, according to an ancient tradition. The remaining bread is hidden or buried until the traveller returns home.

Handshakes are only appropriate for greetings between two men. When greeting an Uzbek woman, bow with your right hand over your heart.

In Uzbek tradition, the most respected guest is seated farthest from the house's entrance.

Respect for the elderly is essential. An Uzbek will never insult or scream at his parents.

The music of the Uzbek people is well-known throughout the world. Koshuk are songs about everyday life, whereas Lapar are dialogues between two singers. Many of these are love songs. Texts for the songs are taken from national and professional poems.

The soft smoothness and expressiveness of movement in Uzbek traditional dances, whether in place or in a circle, distinguishes them.

Painted pottery influenced by the many cultures that have lived in the country, as well as luscious, colourful, ornamental embroidery, are examples of applied arts. In the province of Bukhara, fine embroidery with gold threads is still practised.

Soccer and tennis are the most popular sports in the country. Cycling, boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics are other popular sports. Uzbek athletes have done well in these sports at the Olympics. Kurash is their indigenous martial art.

The Ugam-Chatkal National Park is home to 44 mammal species, 230 bird species, and 1168 plant species, which include bears, wolves, red marmots, lynx, snow leopards, and wild rams. Travel permits are required for areas of the park near international borders.

This endangered species is being rescued and restored by the Jeyran Ecological Center. The natural geography is explored in the Kitab State Geological Reserve and the Kyzylkum Tugai and Sand Reserve. Be on the lookout for wild boar, deer, wild ducks, sandpipers, and reed cats.

The Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve will be added to the UNESCO global list of such reserves in the near future.

Chimgan, Charvak, and Beldersay are three relaxation health and recreation complexes in Uzbekistan. Except for CIS passport holders, all tourists must obtain a visa (The Commonwealth of Independent States.)

Camel trekking, hiking, bird watching, rafting, and skiing are some of the other activities available to tourists in the country.

Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country, meaning it is surrounded by landlocked countries. Furthermore, none of its rivers ever reach the sea.

The Tashkent region, which includes the capital city of Tashkent, is the nation's economic and political centre. The international airport, bus service, and Tashkent's beautiful metro system are all located here.

The three Metro Tashkent stations have marble ceilings and pillars, engraved metal, and beautiful chandeliers. Not only does it have some of the most beautiful stations in the world, but it is also Central Asia's largest metro system.

The Aral Sea was once the fourth largest inland sea on the planet. It has shrunk to half its former area and decreased by threefold in volume since the Soviets depleted its water supply to irrigate cotton fields in the 1960s and extensively used chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

Water is currently scarce in Uzbekistan, with underground water and reservoirs meeting plant irrigation needs. Some rivers are now half dry. The drying of the Aral Sea has caused disease and agricultural devastation in the surrounding area.

During the Soviet era, the island of Vozrozhdeniye in the Aral Sea was used as a secret biological weapons testing site. The Soviets buried evidence on the island in 1988, which is now contaminated with live anthrax and other lethal poisons.

The country mines 160 million ounces of gold per year and has the world's fourth largest gold deposits. Its Muruntau gold mine is the world's largest open pit gold mine, and it is located on an ancient turquoise mining site.

Be aware that laws in Uzbekistan are strictly enforced, punishments are severe, and it is not wise to argue with the police. If you are under the age of 20, it is illegal to gamble, possess and use drugs, or use tobacco or alcohol. In this country, homosexuality is illegal.

Be aware that some photography irritates the authorities. Avoid photographing government or public buildings, as well as transportation hubs.