Karakalpakstan

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Coordinates: 43°10′N, 58°45′E

Qaraqalpaqstan Respublikası
Qoraqalpog`iston Respublikasi

Republic of Karakalpakstan

Political map of Karakalpakstan

Location of Karakalpakstan (coloured purple) with sorrounding countries

Capital

Nukus

Official languages Karakalpak, Uzbek

Demonym

Karakalpak

Government

Autonomous republic of Uzbekistan

- President of the republic Musa Yerniyazov ^[1]

Area

- Total 160,000 km²
61,800 sq mi

Population

- 2005 estimate 1,200,000

- Density 7.5/km²
19.4/sq mi

Currency Som (UZS)

Internet TLD

.qr

Karakalpakstan (Karakalpak: Qaraqalpaqstan Respublikası or Қарақалпақстан Республикасы; Uzbek: Qoraqalpog`iston Respublikasi or Қорақалпоғистон Республикаси) is an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan. It occupies the whole western end of Uzbekistan. The capital is Nukus (Karakalpak: No'kis or Нөкис). The Republic of Karakalpakstan has an area of 160,000 square kilometers (61,776 sq mi). Its territory covers the classical land of Khwarezm, though in classical Persian literature, the area was known as "Kāth".

1 Demographics
2 Economy
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

The population of Karakalpakstan is estimated at 1,200,000, of whom 400,000 are of the Karakalpak ethnic group, 400,000 are Uzbek, and 300,000 are Kazakh. The Karakalpak were formerly nomadic herders and fishers, and were first mentioned in the 16th century. Their name means "Black Hat", but Karakalpak culture was so lost through Sovietization that the original meaning of the black hat is now unknown. The Karakalpak language is considered closer to Kazakh than to Uzbek. Indeed there are accusations that the ethnic group was an invention of the Soviet government to divide the Kazakh population. The language was written in a modified Cyrillic in Soviet times, and in the Latin alphabet since 1996.

Other than the capital Nukus, large cities include Hojeli (Uzbek: Hujayli; Russian Khodzheyli), a site of extensive Khorezm ruins and Moynaq, (Uzbek: Maynoq; Russian Muynak), a former Aral Sea port now several miles inland.

The economy of the region, formerly heavily dependent on fisheries, is now supported by cotton, rice and melons. Hydroelectric power from a large Soviet-built station on the Amu Darya is also important.

The Amu Darya delta was once heavily populated, and supported extensive irrigation based agriculture for thousands of years. Under the Khorezm, the area attained considerable power and prosperity. However, the gradual climate change over the centuries, accelerated by the Aral Sea ecological disaster of the late 20th century has created a science-fiction like nightmare for Karakalpakstan. The ancient oasis of rivers, lakes, reed marshes, forests and farms are drying up, and being poisoned by wind-borne salt and chemicals from the dried bed of the Aral Sea. Allegedly summer temperatures have risen 10 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures have decreased by 10 degrees Celsius, and the number of health and respiratory problems has risen dramatically.