Uzbekistan. Government. People. Land and climate

Uzbekistan, is a country in central Asia. It extends from the foothills of the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains to land just west of the Aral Sea. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent Uzbekistan became independent in 1991, after nearly 70 years as a republic of the Soviet Union.

Government. Uzbekistan has a president, a prime minister, a Cabinet of Ministers, and a one-house legislature. The president is elected to a seven-year term, and legislators are elected to five-year terms. The president Is the most powerful government official. The president appoints the prime minister, Cabinet members, and governors of provinces. The prime minister and the Cabinet carry out government operations.

The dominant political party in Uzbekistan is the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. It formed after the Soviet Communist Party disbanded in 1991. This party kept much of the Communist Party's membership and policies. A few other parties are allowed to exist but none that seriously challenges government policies.

People. Ethnic Uzbeks make up over 70 percent of the population. Russians, the second largest group, make up less than 10 percent Other groups include Tatars, Kazakhs, Tajiks, and Karakalpaks. The Uzbeks are descended from Turkic tribes, Mongols, Persians, and other peoples. They live mainly in rural areas. They speak Uzbek, the country's official language, which is related to Turkish. The Russians speak Russian and live mainly in cities. Many non-Russians also speak Russian because the Soviet government encouraged people to learn the language when Uzbekistan was a Soviet republic. Russian remains part of the school curriculum.

Most people in Uzbekistan are Muslims. Islam (the Muslim religion) is an important force in Uzbek society.

Most rural dwellers are farmers. Most rural homes are made of sun-dried bricks. Many of them have no indoor plumbing or central heating. City dwellers live in single-story homes and multistory apartment buildings.

The people of Uzbekistan wear both traditional and Western-style clothing. Traditional dress for men includes long robes and black boots. Women sometimes wear bright cotton or silk dresses and silk scarves. The people often wear traditional embroidered skullcaps, both with traditional and Western-style clothing.

Most of the families of Uzbekistan are large, and many include six or more children. In rural areas, many members of an extended family may live together in one household. Such a household might include parents, married children and their offspring, and other relatives. Because of marriage patterns, it is common for all the people in a village to be related to one another. Many marriages are arranged by the families of the bride and groom. People spend much time entertaining guests, and they have elaborate customs related to hospitality.

Foods commonly eaten include rice, vegetables, fruit, mutton, and a flat, round bread called nan. Pilaf, a rice dish, is also popular. Tea is the most popular drink.

Soccer is widely enjoyed in Uzbekistan. Traditional Uzbek recreational activities include wrestling and tightrope walking. Another favorite sport is ulaq, a game played on horseback in which riders try to grab a dead sheep and carry it across a goal.

Uzbeks are known for their crafts. These include carpet making, embroidery, glazed pottery, jewelry making, metalwork, and woodcarving.

Children in Uzbekistan attend elementary and general secondary schools, and many young people continue their education in trade schools, institutes, or universities. The country has a number of universities and other institutes of higher education.

Land and climate. About 80 percent of Uzbekistan's land consists of plains and deserts. The vast Kyzylkum desert lies in central Uzbekistan. It is largely uninhabited except for mining towns. Plains south and east of the desert are used mostly for growing cotton. Farmers raise livestock in the plains and in irrigated desert areas. Uzbekistan's most densely populated region is the Fergana Valley, in the east The valley receives its water from mountains of the Tian Shan range that surround it Central Asia's two most important rivers, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, flow to the Aral Sea from the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains.

Summers in Uzbekistan are long, dry, and hot Winters are cold. Summer temperatures in southern Uzbekistan may reach 113 °F (45 ^CC). In the north, winter temperatures may drop to -35 °F (-37 °С).