Karakalpakia is a republic in Central Asia, part of Uzbekistan. An amazing place surrounded by deserts. Who are the Karakalpaks and how was the republic formed? Where is she located? What is interesting to see here?
Republic by the dry sea
The territory of Karakalpakstan is located in the valley of the Amu Darya River and reaches the shores of the Aral Sea - once the fourth largest in the world. This republic sadly glorified Uzbekistan. Karakalpakia has become a place of environmental disaster. In Soviet times, the waters flowing into the Aral rivers began to be directed to irrigate the coastal area. Gradually, the sea began to chalk and dry.
Previously, valuable species of fish lived in the Aral Sea, most of which were used in fishing. There were several fish factories and plants. Due to unreasonable use, the water level decreased every year. The territory of the sea was gradually conquered by the desert, and chemicals used in agriculture were deposited on the surface, making the salts and air in the area poisonous.
Now the Republic of Karakalpakstan is known as the “ship cemetery”. During the slow drying of the sea, many ships remained standing still. In the former seaport of Moinak, huge rusty vessels are now located right in the middle of the hot desert sands.
General information
Karakalpakstan is a sovereign republic, which is part of Uzbekistan. It can leave the country on the basis of a referendum. Sovereign status allows Karakalpakstan to independently deal with 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, Yerniyazov 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. This is the largest city of the republic. Other major cities are Turtkul, Chimbal, Khojeyli, Beruniy, Kungrad and Takhiatash.
The basis of the economy is agriculture and industry. Cereals are cultivated (millet and rice), cotton, silk. Livestock is common. The republic has the only soda factory in Central Asia, carbide is produced in Kungrad, a glass factory is located in Khojeylis, the capital of Karakalpakstan has cable and marble plants.
Geography
One of the most interesting lands of Central Asia is, of course, Karakalpakstan. Where is the republic located? It is located on the Turan Lowland, in the western part of Uzbekistan. In the east, two regions of the country border it (Khorezm and Navoi). The Republic of Karakalpakstan shares the western, northern, and northeastern borders with the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the southern and southeastern borders with Turkmenistan.
Deserts occupy most of the territory of the republic, namely 80%. In the northeast is the Kyzylkum desert. In the northern part of the republic, on the site of the Aral Sea, a new desert formed - the Aralkum. It consists of sand and toxic salts, which negatively affect the health of the local population.
Ecological disaster significantly affected the climate of the republic. It has become sharply continental and more arid. In summer it is hot and little rain, in winter it is cold and there is practically no snow. Tugai forests grow in the Amu Darya delta. In the rest of the desert vegetation is common - shrubs and shrubs.
History of Karakalpakstan
In the territory of modern Karakalpakstan people have lived since the Neolithic. The Karakalpak ethnic group was based on the Pecheneg tribes, who lived here at the same time as the Oguzes in the II-VI centuries of our era. The ethnic group received a new name due to wearing hats made of black sheep wool.
At the beginning of the XIV century, the Nogai Khanate was formed, which also included the Karakalpaks. Later it splits into several hordes. Together with the Horde of six uluses, the Karakalpaks populate the Aral Sea region, and in 1714 they founded their own Karakalpak Khanate.
After the defeat of the Khanate by the Kalmyks, part of the population goes to Tashkent, and part remains in the lower Syr Darya. Located on the lower banks of the river, the Karakalpaks later became subjects of the Russian emperor.
Further Karakalpakia is part of various state entities. In 1917, it became part of the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, then directly subordinated to Socialist Russia. In 1932, the Kara-Kalpak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was formed. In 1936, the republic became part of the Uzbek SSR, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Karakalpakstan remained an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, having concluded an agreement for 20 years.
Population
About 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 (approximately 500 thousand) live in the Autonomous Republic of Uzbekistan as part of Uzbekistan. Their total number is about 600 thousand. A small part of the people lives 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. Two national languages operate within the republic: Karakalpak and Uzbek. The Karakalpak language has more similarities with the Kazakh language, which often causes political disagreement among the population. The main religion is Sunni Islam.
Republic sights
Karakalpakstan is called an archaeological reserve. There are about nine archaeological sites, for example, the ancient settlement Toprak-Kala, which existed from the 1st to 4th centuries AD. Another ancient 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 monument of the culture of Khorezm. There are also several places of worship. Among them is Koykrylgan-Kala. This is a cylindrical building up to 80 meters high, which was used for worship by Zoroastrians, later it served as a signal tower.
In addition to architectural attractions, there are natural attractions 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. Near the Amu Darya river is the Badai-Tugay reserve.
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.
About 300 thousand inhabitants live in the city. It is the largest in the republic. The official date of its formation is considered to be 1860, although researchers claim that Nukus is a city with a long history. Settlements in the city existed in antiquity. From IV to n. e. by IV n. e. there was the settlement of Shurcha, built by the inhabitants of the Khorezm Khanate.
The Aral Sea is very close, therefore the city of Nukus (Karakalpakstan) experienced the harmful effects of the disaster. The capital is surrounded on all sides by the deserts 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 large number of memorable places. The main attractions inside the city are museums. One of them is the I. Savitsky Art Museum, dedicated to Russian avant-garde painting of the 20th century. The Berdakh Museum of Local Lore is also famous. Its expositions are represented by various archaeological finds on the territory of the republic.
Not far from the city is the cult building Chilpyk, built in the II century AD. It is located on a hill up to 30 meters high, and has the shape of an open ring, whose diameter is approximately 70 meters.
Between Nukus and the city of Khojeylis is the architectural complex Mizdakhkan. It also refers to archaeological sites, as it was built in the 4th century BC, and lasted 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 Karakalpak. The first state formation of this people can be considered the Karakalpak Khanate, created in the XVIII century. Now Karakalpakstan is part of Uzbekistan. And the city of Nukus is its main city.
A large territory of the republic is covered by deserts. One of them was formed as a result of the drying of the Aral Sea. In its place now is the new Aralkum desert. However, desert territories are not the whole of Karakalpakstan. People in these parts have lived since primitive times, so many archaeological and architectural monuments are located here. Some of them arose even before our era.