The capital of Karakalpakstan is the city of Nukus. Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan as part of Uzbekistan

Karakalpakia is a republic in Central Asia that is part of Uzbekistan. A wonderful place, surrounded by deserts. Who are the Karakalpaks and how was the republic formed? Where is it located? What interesting things can you see here?

Republic at 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 ecological disaster. During the Soviet period, the rivers flowing into the Aral River were sent to irrigation of the coastal area. Gradually the sea began to grow shy and dry up.

Earlier in the Aral Sea lived valuable fish species, most of which were used in the fishery. Here 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 the chemicals used in agriculture were deposited on the surface, making the salt and air in this area poisonous.

Now the Republic of Karakalpakstan is known as the "cemetery of ships". During the slow drying of the sea, many ships remained standing still. In the former seaport of Moynak, there are now huge rusty vessels located right in the middle of the hot sand of the desert.

General information

Karakalpakia is a sovereign republic that is part of Uzbekistan. She can withdraw from the country on the basis of a referendum. Sovereign status enables Karakalpakstan to deal with administrative issues of the republic independently, without agreement with Uzbekistan.

Karakalpakstan has its own flag, coat of arms, anthem and even the constitution and government bodies. 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 of 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. Livestock is common. In the republic there is the only soda factory in Central Asia, in Kungrad carbide is produced, in Khodjeylis is a glass factory, the capital of Karakalpakstan has cable and marble plants.

Geography

One of the most interesting lands of Central Asia is, of course, Karakalpakia. Where is the republic? It is located on the Turan lowland, in the western part of Uzbekistan. In the east, it borders on two regions of the country (Khorezm and Navoi). The western, northern and north-eastern border of the Republic of Karakalpakstan shares with the Republic of Kazakhstan, the south and south-east - with Turkmenistan.

Deserts occupy most of the territory of the republic, namely 80%. In the north-east is the Kyzylkum desert. In the northern part of the republic, on the site of the Aral Sea, a new desert, Aralkum, was formed. It consists of sand and poisonous salts, which adversely affect the health of the local population.

Ecological disaster significantly affected the climate of the republic. It became sharply continental and more arid. In summer there is hot and little rain, in winter it is cold and there is practically no snow. Tugai forests grow in the delta of the Amu Darya. The rest of the area is deserted vegetation - shrubs and semishrubs.

History of Karakalpakstan

On the territory of modern Karakalpakstan, people have lived since the Neolithic times. The tribes of the Pechenegs, who lived here simultaneously with the Oguzes around the 2nd-6th centuries AD, formed the basis of the Karakalpak people. The ethnic group received a new name because of wearing hats made of black sheep's wool.

At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the Nogai Khanate was formed, including Karakalpaks. Later it breaks up into several hordes. Together with the Horde of six uluses Karakalpaks inhabit the Aral Sea, 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 some remain in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya. Located near the lower banks of the river Karakalpaks later become subjects of the Russian emperor.

Further, Karakalpakia is a part of various state formations. In 1917, it became part of the Kazakh ASSR, then subordinated directly to Socialist Russia. In 1932 the Kara-Kalpak ASSR was formed. In 1936, the republic became part of the Uzbek SSR, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Karakalpakia remained an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, having concluded a contract 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. On the territory of the Autonomous Republic, Uzbekistan is home to the largest number of Karakalpaks (about 500 thousand). 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 popular nationality. Within the republic there are two national languages: 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.

Sights of the Republic

Karakalpakstan is called an archaeological reserve. There are about nine archaeological sites, for example, the site of Toprak-Kala, which existed between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. Another ancient settlement, Janpik-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, Bolshoy Guldunsur, Dzhanbas-Kala. The latter existed before our era and represents a monument of culture of Khorezm. There are also several religious buildings. Among them are Koikrelgan-Kala. This is a cylindrical building up to 80 meters high, which was used to worship the Zoroastrians, later it served as a signal tower.

In addition to architectural attractions, there are natural ones in the republic. First of all, it is the Aral Sea, almost completely turned into a desert, a ship cemetery in the former port of Moinak, and also the Kyzyl Kum desert. Near the river Amudarya is located the reserve Badai-Tugay.

The capital of Karakalpakstan

Nukus is located on the coast of the Amu Darya River, in the central part of the republic. The main city was not always, 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 his education is 1860, although researchers argue that Nukus is a city with a more ancient history. Settlements on the territory of the city existed in ancient times. From IV BC. E. On IV n. E. Here there was a hillfort Shurcha, built by the inhabitants of the Khorezm Khanate.

The Aral Sea is very near, so Nukus (Karakalpakia) experienced the harmful consequences of the disaster. The capital is surrounded on all sides by the deserts of Karakum, Kyzylkum, Aralkum and Ustyurt plateau - a real stony 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. The main attractions in the city are museums. One of them is the I.Savitsky Art Museum dedicated to the Russian avant-garde painting of the 20th century. The local history museum of Berdakh is also known. Its expositions are represented by various archaeological finds on the territory of the republic.

Not far from the city is the cult building of Chilpik, 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, whose diameter is about 70 meters.

Between Nukus and the city of Khojelis is the architectural complex of Mizdahkan. It also refers to archaeological monuments, since it was built in the IV century BC, and existed until the XIV century of our era. The complex occupies about two hundred hectares. Its main parts, such as the mausoleums, are 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 Karakalpakia is a part of Uzbekistan. And the city of Nukus is its main city.

The large territory of the republic is covered with deserts. One of them was formed as a result of the drying out of the Aral Sea. In its place is now a new desert Aralkum. However, the desert territories are not all of Karakalpakia. People in these parts lived since primitive times, so there are many archaeological and architectural monuments. Some of them arose even before our era.