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Uzbekistan, republic in Central Asia, bordered on the
west and north by Kazakhstan, on the east by Kyrgyzstan, on the southeast by Tajikistan, and on the south by Afghanistan and
Turkmenistan. It was formerly the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Uzbekistan includes the Karakalpak Autonomous Republic, which occupies about 37 percent of Uzbekistan's territory. Uzbekistan's land area totals about 447,400 sq. km (about 172,750 sq. mi). Tashkent is the capital and chief industrial and cultural center. Uzbekistan's terrain is composed primarily of plains such as the Turan Lowland; plains occupy about four-fifths of the republic's territory.
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Branches of the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains rise
in the east and northeast, with the highest elevation in the republic reaching 4643 m (about 15,234 ft). Earthquakes, such as the one that destroyed large portions of Tashkent in 1966, are not uncommon. The climate is desert continental; temperatures fluctuate greatly over the course of a year. Average daily temperature in January ranges from -6° to 2° C (21.2° to 35.6° F), and in July from 26° to 32° C (78.8° to 89.6° F). Precipitation is scant, and irrigation is necessary for crop cultivation, except along mountain slopes.
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The north-central part of the republic is occupied by
the Kyzylkum, the second
largest desert in the former USSR and one of the largest deserts in the world. Most of Uzbekistan's rivers drain internally or dissipate before reaching a terminal body of water. The two largest rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, flow into the Aral Sea. They have been heavily tapped for irrigation, and as a result, the surface of the Aral Sea has declined sharply in recent decades, with severe environmental damage to the surrounding ecosystem. Extensive canal systems, such as the Amu-Bukhoro, Qarshi, Southern Golodnaya Steppe, and Great Fergana canals, have greatly altered hydrologic flow patterns. The republic contains many large artificial lakes and reservoirs, such as Lake Aidar, which is fed by irrigation runoff water. The republic also boasts a great variety of wildlife. Desert fauna include the extremely rare Saiga antelope and the desert monitor, a large lizard that can reach lengths of 1.6 m (5 ft). The rare snow leopard can be found at higher elevations, which are replete with several varieties of mountain goat.
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Leading industrial products are agricultural and textile
machinery, textiles, aircraft, natural gas, and gold. Recent discoveries of oil in the Fergana Valley have increased domestic
production considerably, but the republic is still highly dependent on outside sources of oil to meet its domestic needs. As in many other former Soviet republics, Uzbekistan's economy has suffered as a result of the dissolution of the USSR and the disruption of trade ties with other former Soviet republics. Net material product declined by more than 14 percent in 1992. Machinery parts, fuel, and other imports have been in short supply in the post-Soviet period. The government has delayed market-style reforms, and the economy remains largely state-controlled. Price controls have been imposed on many consumer items, and subsidies continue to be allocated to inefficient enterprises and farms. Privatization has been severely limited, and private land ownership has not yet been legalized. In November 1993 Uzbekistan introduced its own currency, the som coupon, to replace the Russian ruble. In early 1994 a free-trade zone was established between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
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With about 20,739,000 inhabitants in 1991, Uzbekistan
has the largest population of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, and the third largest population of any former Soviet republic. Uzbeks, a Turkic-speaking people
with an Islamic heritage, constitute 71 percent of the population. Russians are the largest minority with 8.3 percent. As in
most other former Soviet republics in Central Asia, the size of the Russian minority has decreased in recent years, as thousands have emigrated to Russia and elsewhere.
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Tajiks (4.7 percent) and Kazakhs
(4.1 percent) are the next largest minorities, followed by Tatars, Karakalpaks, Koreans, Kyrgyz, Ukrainians, Turkmens, and Turks. The Russians in Uzbekistan live almost exclusively in Tashkent and other industrial centers. Tajiks are concentrated in the ancient cities of Bukhara and Samarkand. Karakalpaks reside principally in their home region, the Karakalpak Autonomous Republic. Most of the population of Uzbekistan lives in rural settlements. Slightly more than 40 percent of the total population live in urban areas. With a population of about 2,094,000 in 1990, Tashkent, the capital, is the largest city in Central Asia and the fourth largest in the former USSR. Other major cities, which are concentrated in the eastern half of the country, include Samarkand (370,000), Namangan (312,000), Andijan (297,000), and Bukhara (228,000). The country's population growth rate is high, about 3.5 percent per year. Health standards, such as infant mortality and death from infectious diseases, are poor. The desiccation of the Aral Sea and a decline in the quality and quantity of drinking water have contributed to the deterioration of the population's health in the western part of the country.
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How to call Uzbekistan?
The telephone code for Uzbekistan is 998. To call Tashkent from Paris for example, it is necessary to dial the numbers: 00+998+71 (the Tashkent
city code) followed by the number of the subscriber (00 998 71 xxx xx xx). Please note: some of the telephone numbers in Tashkent are seven-digit numbers and some are six-digit numbers.
When dialing a seven-digit number the city code is 71. When dialing a six-digit number add a 2 to the city code which then become 712. Other cities:
Samarkand - 998 + 662 + number of subscriber
Bukhara - 998 + 6522 + number of subscriber
Khiva - 998 + 6222 + number of subscriber
Andijan - 998 + 742 + number of subscriber
Namangan - 998 + 6922 + number of subscriber
Ferghana - 998 + 732 + number of subscriber
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Significant dates
August 31,1991. A special session of the Supreme Council of the Republic proclaimed Uzbekistan an independent state. By a corresponding
resolution the Uzbek SSR is renamed the Republic of Uzbekistan.
September 1,1999. Independence Day.
December 1991. Islam Karimov was alternatively elected the first President of independent Uzbekistan.
January 1992. In Prague, at the session of the Foreign Ministers of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), Uzbekistan is
admitted as a member of this international organization.
March 2,1992. The General Assembly of the United Nations admits Uzbekistan into membership.
December 8,1999. The day of adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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September 1993. A law is passed introducing a new Uzbek alphabet based on the Roman alphabet.
July 1,1994. The day of putting into circulation the national currency of Uzbekistan - the soum.
December 25,1994. The first elections were held to the new parliament, the Oliy Majlis.
March 26,1995. A referendum was held which extended the term of office of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, from 1997
until the year 2000.
June 21,1996. President Islam Karimov signed an Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European
Union at the summit of the EU member-states in Florence. August 1997. Putting into operation the biggest in Central Asia the Bukhara Oil Processing Plant with the capacity of 2 mln tons of
oil per year. That gave Uzbekistan an opportunity not only to meet its demands in oil, but to export it to neighboring countries.
September 1997. The International Conference 'Central Asia - Nuclear Weapons Free Zone' was held in Tashkent at the initiative of Uzbekistan.
October 1997. The celebration of the 2,500th anniversaries of Bukhara and Khiva under the UNESCO auspices.
October 1998. The celebration of 1,200th anniversary of the prominent scientist, mathematician, astronomer Akhmad al-Farghoni and the 1,225th
anniversary of the great Islamic scientist and theologist Imam al-Bukhari.
May 1999. The 9th of May was proclaimed the Day of Memory and Respects.
July 1,1999. The Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation, signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and European Union, comes into force.
July 19-20,1999. The Tashkent session of the "6+2" group on Afghanistan was held under the UN auspices.
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