Uzbekistan
Capital
Tashkent
Population
~35.6 million
Currency
Uzbekistani So'm (UZS)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Uzbek
- Religion
- Predominantly Sunni Islam
- Climate
- Continental desert; hot summers, cool winters
Culture & History
Known for: stunning Silk Road cities (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva) with intricate Islamic architecture, significant cotton production (historically controversial labor practices), and being doubly landlocked
Also famous for: Rich history involving Timur (Tamerlane), Soviet legacy, recent reforms opening the country
Food: Plov (national dish), Samsa (savory pastry), Laghman (noodles)
Brief History
Center of ancient empires/trade routes, Russian conquest, Soviet republic, independence 1991, authoritarian rule under Islam Karimov, recent period of cautious reform