Natural conditions

Uzbekistan is characterized by arid and sharply continental climate and a quick change from unstable winter to warm rainy spring, from damp and short spring to dry summer, from warm autumn to winter. Winters are very changeable, frequent light frosts and frosts are very often followed by intensive and long thaws. The average temperature in July is +30 , in January +3 . It is much colder in mountains and foothills.Uzbekistan is characterized by a large number of sunny hours reaching 2500-3000 hours a year. In average 240-250 days a year are sunny days. The biggest rivers of Uzbekistan are the Sir-Darya (2140 kilometres) and Amu-Darya (1400 kilometres). There are many other smaller rivers, lakes and big man-made reservoirs. Rivers and their tributaries offer all necessary facilities for fishing and aquatic sports. According to the types of landscape the republic is divided into the following: mountains (9 per cent of the territory), foothills (12 per cent), desert-steppe zone (5 per cent), deserts (60 per cent), irrigated oases (14 per cent).
In the North-West of Uzbekistan stretch the Turan Lowland and the Ustyurt desert plateau turning into the Aral Sea; in the South-East are the mountain ranges of the Tien-Shan and the Altai; the South-West of the republic (the right banks of rivers and the Amu-Darya) are occupied by the Kizil-Kum desert; in the East is situated the Ferghana valley surrounded by mountain ranges.
The western Tian-Shan consists of spurs of Chatkal (3500 m), Kuramin (2500m) and Korjantan mountain ranges which are broken up by valleys of the Akhangaran and Chirchik rivers. The valleys of these rivers are very picturesque. Walnut trees, hawthorns and different ornamental trees grow in groves of those valleys. At a height of 1500 m. a permanent snow cover lies from early December till late March which promotes the development of winter sports. Thus, a base of mountain-skying sport and a tourist complex serving the residents and guests of Tashkent were built in Chimgan.
In the Central Part of the country, between the Sanzar and Zaamin rivers the Zaamin park occupying the area of 44,2 thousand hectares is located. The natural conditions of this place are unique and favourable for the construction of recreation zones, tourist centres and the development of winter sports. The total area of national parks, forest and plant reserves is 1 million hectares. The territory of forests is 1,6 million hectares.
Basic irrigated lands of the republic lie in the Tashkent oasis, Hungry and Jizak steppes, Ferghana valley, Zarafshon, Kashka-Darya and Surkhan-Darya oases. 32 deposits of medicinal subterranean mineral waters of different balneological groups have been explored on the territory of Uzbekistan. Of great interest are the caves in the South and North of the republic. The caves consist of narrow passages leading to big underground halls, with lakes in their centres. On the walls of some caves we can see and find rock paintings and carving on stones - dumb witnesses of the life of men in the past.
The vegetable kingdom of Uzbekistan is very diverse and rich. Over 3000 kinds of wild plants grow here, 250 of which are found only in the republic. 57 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibias, 91 species of mammals and over 400 species of birds are found in Uzbekistan.
Thus the characteristic features of Uzbekistan which lies in the middle of a large Euro-Asian continent are the combination of fertile irrigated lowlands and deserts, green foothills and snow-capped peaks, mountain rivers, numerous lakes and man-made reservoirs as well as many other bright and contrasting landscapes which cannot but arouse the admiration of travellers.

Population

The population of Uzbekistan is 22 million. 129 nations and nationalities live here: Uzbeks (71%), Russians (8%), Tadjiks (5%), Kazakhs (4%), Tatars (2%), Kara-kalpaks (2%) and many others. The urban population makes up 9 million (40%), the rural population - 13 million (60%). Nearly 5% of the population of Uzbekistan are children under the age of 18. The main city centres are: Tashkent - 2,1mln. residents, Samarkand -360 thousand, Namangan - 330 thousand, Andijan - 300 thousand, Bukhara - 240 thousand, Ferghana - 195 thousand, Kokand - 180 thousand. People of Uzbekistan have a high level of education and are very hard-working. The state language is Uzbek, many people speak Russian and very few - English.

Tourism potentials of Uzbekistan

Each part of the republic has its own tourism potential. A great number of historical monuments on the territory of Uzbekistan are associated with significant stages of history starting with the epoch palaeolith, the period of formation of slave-owning society and marches of Alexander of Macedonia, prosperity of the Baktrian state, Kushan empire, period of arab invasion, mongol domination and Timur's empire and the period of formation of the Uzbek nation and statehood. Over four thousand monuments of architecture are registered on the territory of Uzbekistan. According to their art most of them rank with world-famous monuments of architecture of Egypt, India, ancient Greece and Rome. These monuments allow to find oneself among the living surroundings of ancient medieval society, restore their everyday life, life of cities and villages, ancient art. Monuments of Timur's epoch and the Timurides give an idea of the period of formation of one of the biggest medieval empires of the East, violent growth of its culture and art.
Priority place in the history of that epoch belongs to Samarkand - the capital of the empire with its outstanding monuments and architectural ensemble Registan: madrasahs Ulugbek, Tillyakari, Sherdor, mosque and mausoleum Bibikhanum, ensemble Shakhi-Zinda, mausoleum Gur-Emir and others. Of special significance in the history and culture of that period are the monuments related to the life and activity of Ulugbek whose 600-th anniversary was celebrated in 1994. In the XV-th century he made up the celestial map of the sky which for several centuries served as a basis for celestial cartography not only in Asia, but also in Europe.
Another city, Bukhara, is also linked with ever more important periods in the history of Uzbekistan. Bukhara is world-famous for its outstanding mausoleums, mosques and minarets. They are Ismail Samani mausoleum (IX-X-th centuries), Magoki and Attari mosques, Kalyan minaret, Ulugbek and Mir Arab madrasahs. Of great interest is a complex of trading premises.
A much later period of the development of feudal system with its characteristic features is reflected in a well-preserved architectural complex of Khiva (XVIII-XIX centuries).They are Tyurabek-Khanim and Seyid Alauddin mausoleums, Djuma council mosque, Uch aviiya mosque and burial-vault of three saints, portal of Allahuli-khan madrasah and others. Much less studied are the archeological monuments of Uzbekistan dating back to the period of pre-arab invasion, the period of slave-owning (ancient system) and early period of feudalism. One of the monuments of that historical period is "Afrasiab" in Samarkand. The museum devoted to this monument can become one of the most attractive objects of tourism of the world historical and cultural significance. The republic has a rich national culture and one of its most important components are folk handicrafts: masterpieces of monumental and decorative art - carving on wood and gunch, copper-chased ware, jewelry, gold-sewing skill, handwork on silk, manufacture of musical instruments. It should be pointed out that folk art of different area of Uzbekistan has its own stylistic unique peculiarities.
Of particular significance is the fact that already in ancient times "Great Silk Road" passed through the territory of Uzbekistan connecting China and India with Central Asia and Europe. This main caravan transport artery ensured the development of ancient towns and linked nearly all towns of Uzbekistan with one another. Possibilities of the development of ecological tourism in Uzbekistan are very great.

The ecologically clean zones are: