Uzbekistan

History

The country was one of the major trade route called the Great Silk Road connecting China to the Middle East during the 1^st century BC. It had been under the rule of Soviet from 1924 to 1991.

The country gained independence on 31^st August 1991. The US used an airbase in Uzbekistan during its operation in Afghanistan.

Food/ culture

Uzbek culture arose from Russian, Chinese, nomadic, Greeks, Persian and Arab culture.

The crops grown in the country include rice, cotton, wheat, rye, barley and corn.

Wildlife

The wildlife living in Uzbekistan includes the wild cat, striped hyena, brown bear, cheetah, Turkestan sand cat and Eurasian lynx.

Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals

Navruz festival is an Iranian or Persian New Year.

Boysun Bahori festival happens during the spring festival.

Independence Day is celebrated on 1^st September.

Things to see

The Amir Timur Museum preserves the manuscripts, weapons and many relics used during the Timurid Empire. State Museum of History of Uzbekistan preserves Buddhist artefacts many centuries aged.

Tashkent tower offers a position to catch a good view of the city.

The Registan in the centre of Samarkand city is where people gathered to listen to royal speeches.

Gur-i-Amir is a sepulchre which belonged to the Asian conqueror Tumur in Samarkand.

Interesting facts

The ancient Silk Road sites used as a trade route connecting China to the Mediterranean regions are found in Uzbekistan.

The official language in Uzbekistan is Uzbek.

The most popular religion is Sunni Islam.

Borders

Uzbekistan is bordered on the north by Kazakhstan, on the northeast by Kyrgyzstan, on the southeast by Tajikistan, on the south by Afghanistan and the southwest by Turkmenistan.