Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. Past and present

The northernmost region of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Khorezm region, is located on the lowland plain, part of which is the ancient delta of the Amudarya River, the other part in the west and southwest adjoins the Karakum Desert, where the border with Turkmenistan lies. It also borders the Bukhara region and the Karakalpak region of Uzbekistan.

Administrative Districts

On the border with Turkmenistan is the Khorezm region. The city of Urgench is its capital. A small area covers less than 2% of the total area of Uzbekistan - 6.3 thousand square meters. Kilometers. On its territory are 3 cities (Urgench, Khiva, Pitnak) and 9 townships. The total administrative districts (fogs) - 11 and the city of regional subordination Urgench. It is a modern industrial city with developed infrastructure. It has 163 thousand people. Public transport operates. Between Urgench and Khiva, there is an intercity trolleybus.

Nature of Khorezm

The Khorezm region is located on the bank of the Amudarya River, which serves as a source of water in this semi-desert region. The river, flowing through the flat terrain, has a large floodplain and shallow banks, which are flooded during the spring high water. Due to its wide spills, which bring silt, poor solonchak soils give a rich harvest. The waters of the Amu Darya are widely used for irrigation. In the Soviet era, a powerful irrigation system was created, which includes irrigation canals Shavat, Klychbai, Palvan-Gazavat, Tashsakinsky and others.

The south of the region has many small lakes, mostly saline, swampy areas and solonchaks, covered with tugai - thickets consisting of poplar, willow, clematis, loch and other semi-desert plants. Lakes and swamps are formed when the area is flooded by flood and groundwater. The river is rich in fish, there are catfish, asp, bream, Chechon, carp, white cupid and other species. In tugai thickets there are wild boars, Bukhara deer, hares, reed cats, badgers and other fauna.

Agriculture and industry

The Khorezm region, the regions of which mostly cultivate cotton and agricultural products, is considered to be agrarian-industrial. The population is mainly engaged in agriculture on irrigated land. The main agricultural crop is cotton, which occupies most of the total gross production of products. To protect the fertile soil layer from the winds along the fields, a lot of mulberry trees were planted, which served as an incentive for the silkworm breeding, which serves as a source of raw materials for silkworm breeding. The region grows grain, vegetables and fruits. Here grow famous for the whole world sweet and fragrant Khorezm melons.

Industry is mainly aimed at processing agricultural products, in addition to that, cotton and silk fabrics are operating in the region, there are sewing and knitting industries. Khorezm region has always been famous for the whole world famous Khiva carpets. In Khiva there is a large carpet weaving production.

The subsoil of the region is rich in oil, gas, gold, silver, other rare earth metals, marble and granite. They are mining and processing.

Ancient land of Khorezm

I want to clarify that the land of Khorezm, as it was called and now called, is the Khorezm region. The city of Urgench was not always its capital. Once in ancient times a city with such a name existed and was 150 kilometers from the present Urgench. But for unknown reasons, the Amu Darya changed its course and people left it.

The nature of the region does not shine with beauty, but nevertheless the flow of tourists increases from year to year. This is facilitated by the ancient history of Khorezm, its magnificent monuments that are preserved, restored and presented to tourists in pristine beauty. On the territory of the region, international archaeological expeditions are constantly working, studying ancient settlements and ancient sites, which are many.

Khorezm is considered the cradle of human civilization. Archaeologists have established that the settlement of lands took place as far back as the 6th and 10th centuries BC. The first mention of Khorezm was contained in the Avesta (1st millennium BC). According to legend, this land was the birthplace of the famous Zarathustra, a priest and prophet, the founder of Zoroastrianism, who was given the revelation of Ahura-Mazda, which looks like "Avesta". This is the very first religion on Earth.

Over the millennia, the land of Khorezm has seen many events, the flowering and falling of civilizations, conquests, destruction and new achievements that lead cities to prosperity. Science and art developed in the cities of Khorezm Urgench and Khiva. The eternal struggle for water made it possible to create ancient irrigation structures that turned lifeless solonchaks into a blooming oasis. The legacy of the past - ancient architectural monuments, they are visited by tourists from all over the world.

Pearl of Uzbekistan - Khiva

Ancient Khiva, the former capital of the Khiva kingdom, which became part of the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century, has been living its history since ancient times, but reached its peak in the 19th and 20th centuries. During this time in its territory were built amazing architectural structures, which are included in the lists of UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

Their main part is concentrated in Ichan-kale. This complex, in its essence, is an ancient city, surrounded by powerful fortress walls. The most outstanding architectural monuments: the minaret of Kalta-Minar, the madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan, the palace of Muhammad-Rahim-khan, the mosque and the mausoleum of Bibi Khodjar, the mausoleum of Shakhimardan, the mausoleum of Sheikh Mavlon Bobo.

Khazarap district

The southernmost is the Khazarasp district of the Khorezm region, it includes 15 settlements, the largest of which is the city of Pitnak. Until the mid-1990s, it was called Friendship. Through it passes the railway line Urgench-Turkmenbahad. There is an automobile plant here.

The center of the district is the ancient city of Khazarasp. On its territory fragments of ancient fortress walls, in which there are loopholes for the protection of the city, were preserved. The corners of the walls are crowned with towers. During the excavation, fragments of ceramics were discovered, the age of which was determined as the 1st millennium BC. To the city from the Amu Darya a large channel was dug, which was navigable.

Koshkupyrsky District

Another confirmation of the ancient land was the Khorezm region - Koshkupyr District, which is the most remote region of Uzbekistan. On its territory there is a settlement of Koshkupyr, near which is Imorat-Bobo - an architectural complex located on the territory of an ancient cemetery. It includes a rural mosque with a minaret and three mausoleums standing apart from each other. The area is rather backward. They are engaged in agriculture here.