Karakalpakia is a republic in Central Asia, which is part of Uzbekistan. An amazing place surrounded by deserts. Who are the Karakalpaks and how did the republic form? Where is she? What interesting things can be seen here?
Republic by the Dry Sea
The territory of Karakalpakstan is located in the valley of the Amudarya River and reaches the shores of the Aral Sea - once the fourth largest in the world. This republic sadly glorified Uzbekistan. Karakalpakstan has become a place of ecological catastrophe. In Soviet times, the waters of the rivers flowing into the Aral began to be directed to irrigate the coastal area. Gradually, the sea began to shallow and dry up.
Previously, valuable species of fish lived in the Aral Sea, most of which were used in fishing. There were several fish factories and factories here. Due to unwise use, the water level has decreased every year. The territory of the sea was gradually conquered by the desert, and the chemicals used in agriculture were deposited on the surface, making the s alts and air in the area poisonous.
Now the Republic of Karakalpakstan is known as the "cemeteryships." During the slow drying of the sea, many ships remained standing still. The former seaport of Moinak now houses huge rusty boats nestled right in the middle of the hot desert sands.
General information
Karakalpakstan is a sovereign republic that is part of Uzbekistan. It can withdraw from the country on the basis of a referendum. The sovereign status enables Karakalpakstan to independently deal with the issues of the administrative structure of the republic, without coordination with Uzbekistan.
Karakalpakstan has its own flag, coat of arms, anthem and even a constitution and government bodies. The President of Karakalpakstan Erniyazov Musa Tazhetdinovich has the title of chairman. The territory of the republic is divided into 14 districts called fogs. The capital of Karakalpakstan - Nukus - is a separate administrative unit. It is the largest city in the republic. Other major cities are Turtkul, Chimbal, Khodjeyli, Beruniy, Kungrad and Takhiatash.
The basis of the economy is agriculture and industry. Grain crops (millet and rice), cotton, silk are grown. Animal husbandry is widespread. The only soda plant in Central Asia is located in the republic, carbide is produced in Kungrad, a glass factory is located in Khodjeilis, the capital of Karakalpakstan has a cable and marble factories.
Geography
One of the most interesting lands of Central Asia is, of course, Karakalpakstan. Where is the republic located? She is locatedon the Turan lowland, in the western part of Uzbekistan. In the east, two regions of the country (Khorezm and Navoi) border on it. The Republic of Karakalpakstan shares the western, northern and northeastern border with the Republic of Kazakhstan, the southern and southeastern borders with Turkmenistan.
Deserts occupy most of the territory of the republic, namely 80%. The Kyzylkum desert is located in the northeast. In the northern part of the republic, on the site of the Aral Sea, a new desert was formed - Aralkum. It consists of sand and poisonous s alts that adversely affect the he alth of the local population.
The environmental disaster has significantly affected the climate of the republic. It became sharply continental and more arid. In summer it is hot and there is little precipitation, in winter it is cold and there is practically no snow. Tugai forests grow in the Amudarya delta. In the rest of the desert vegetation is widespread - shrubs and semi-shrubs.
History of Karakalpakstan
On the territory of modern Karakalpakstan, people have lived since the Neolithic. The basis of the Karakalpaks was formed by the tribes of the Pechenegs, who lived here simultaneously with the Oghuz around the 2nd-6th centuries of our era. The new name of the ethnic group was due to the wearing of hats made of black sheep's wool.
At the beginning of the XIV century, the Nogai Khanate was formed, which included the Karakalpaks. Later it breaks up into several hordes. Together with the Horde of six uluses, the Karakalpaks settled in the Aral Sea region, and in 1714 they founded their own Karakalpak Khanate.
After the routKhanate Kalmyks part of the population goes to Tashkent, and part remains in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya. The Karakalpaks, who settled down on the lower banks of the river, later became subjects of the Russian emperor.
Next Karakalpakstan is part of various state entities. In 1917, it becomes part of the Kazakh ASSR, then directly subordinate to Socialist Russia. In 1932, the Kara-Kalpak ASSR was formed. In 1936, the republic becomes part of the Uzbek SSR, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Karakalpakstan remained an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, signing an agreement for 20 years.
Population
Approximately 1.8 million people live in Karakalpakstan. The number of urban and rural population is approximately equal, but the rural population still outweighs. The largest number of Karakalpaks (about 500 thousand) live on the territory of the Autonomous Republic as part of Uzbekistan. Their total number is about 600 thousand. A small part of the people live in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.
The number of Uzbeks and Karakalpaks in the Republic of Karakalpakstan is almost the same. Kazakhs are the third most common nationality. There are two national languages within the republic: Karakalpak and Uzbek. The Karakalpak language has more similarities with Kazakh, which often causes political controversy among the population. The main religion is Sunni Muslim.
Sights of the Republic
Karakalpakstan is calledarchaeological reserve. There are about nine archaeological sites here, for example, the ancient settlement of Toprak-Kala, which existed in the period from the 1st to the 4th century AD. Another settlement, Dzhanpyk-Kala, existed on the territory of the republic from the 9th-11th centuries.
Among the monuments of archeology are the ancient fortresses of Kyzyl-Kala, Big Guldunsur, Dzhanbas-Kala. The latter existed before our era and is a cultural monument of Khorezm. There are also several places of worship. Among them is Koikrylgan-Kala. It is a cylindrical building up to 80 meters high, which was used for worship by the Zoroastrians, later it served as a signal tower.
In addition to architectural sights, there are also natural sights in the republic. First of all, this is the Aral Sea, which has almost completely turned into a desert, a ship cemetery in the former port of Moinak, as well as the Kyzylkum desert. The Badai-Tugay nature reserve is located near the Amu Darya River.
The capital of Karakalpakstan
Nukus is located on the banks of the Amu Darya River, in the central part of the republic. It was not always the main city, for a long time this function was performed by the city of Turktkul. The capital of Karakalpakstan changed in 1933.
The city has about 300 thousand inhabitants. It is the largest in the republic. The official date of its formation is 1860, although researchers claim that Nukus is a city with a longer history. Settlements on the territory of the city existed in antiquity. From IV BC e. according to IV n. e.there was a settlement Shurcha, built by the inhabitants of the Khorezm Khanate.
The Aral Sea is very close, so the city of Nukus (Karakalpakstan) experienced the harmful effects of the disaster. The capital is surrounded on all sides by the deserts of Karakum, Kyzylkum, Aralkum and the Ustyurt plateau - a real rocky desert. Despite the fact that the capital of the republic is surrounded by deserts, Nukus is a city of greenery and flowers.
Sights of Nukus
The capital of Karakalpakstan does not have a lot of memorable places. Museums are the main attractions inside the city. One of them is the I. Savitsky Art Museum, dedicated to Russian avant-garde painting of the 20th century. The local history museum of Berdakh is also famous. Its expositions are represented by various archaeological finds on the territory of the republic.
Not far from the city is the religious building Chilpyk, built in the 2nd century AD. It is located on a hill up to 30 meters high, and has the shape of an open ring with a diameter of approximately 70 meters.
Between Nukus and the city of Khodjeilis there is an architectural complex Mizdahkan. It also belongs to the archaeological sites, as it was built in the 4th century BC, and existed until the 14th century AD. The complex occupies about two hundred hectares. Its main parts, such as mausoleums, are located on three hills.
Conclusion
The basis of the Republic of Karakalpakstan is the Asian people of the Karakalpaks. First stateThe formation of this people can be considered the Karakalpak Khanate, created in the 18th century. Now Karakalpakstan is part of Uzbekistan. And the city of Nukus is its main city.
A large territory of the republic is covered with deserts. One of them was formed as a result of the drying up of the Aral Sea. In its place is now the new desert Aralkum. However, desert territories are not the whole of Karakalpakstan. People have lived in these parts since primitive times, so there are many archaeological and architectural monuments. Some of them originated before our era.
