Area: 447, 8 thous.sq km (roughly the size of Sweden).
Capital: Tashkent.
Time: GMT + 5:00.
Country Code: +998.
Languages: Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Karakalpak.
Money sum: US$1 = 1311 sum (August 2008).
Population: 27 million (50,4 people per square kilometer), ( the most populous in Central Asia, more than 60 %).
Phrases: Hello (assalomu aleykum); Thank you (rakhmat), good bye ( khayr).
Ethnic Groups: 80% Uzbek, 5% Tajik, 5% Russian and 7% others.

Location and geography.
The Republic of Uzbekistan the ‘land of the Uzbeks' lies in the heart of Asia, between the two major rivers of Central Asia, the Syr Darya (Jaxartes) and the Amu Darya (Oxus), in the territory known since ancient times as Bactria, Maverannahr ( the land beyond the river), and later on as Turkestan. Uzbekistan forms the very centre of ex-Soviet Central Asia, for it alone boarders on each of the new republics - Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east and southeast, Turkmenistan to the southwest, as well as Afghanistan to the south.
Administratively the republic consists of the republic of Karakalpakistan (Capital - Nukus town territory - 166,59 thousand sq.km. Population - 1551, 9 thousand people) and 12 regions (Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Navoi, Namangan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Sirdarya, Tashkent, Ferghana, Khorezm).
Uzbekistan's blend of desert, steppe, oases and river valleys places it at the heart of the complex interaction of nomadic culture and oasis settlement that patterns the history of Central Asia. Most of the territory of Uzbekistan is occupied by plains (near four fifth of the territory). One of the main is the Turanian plain (lowland). There is one of the largest deserts of the world - the Kizilkum desert on the north of central part of the territory of Uzbekistan. In the east and northeast of the country are situated spurs of Tien - Shan and the Pamirs, here is the highest spot of the country (4 643 м).

Climate.
Uzbekistan is a dry country aptly termed ‘the sunny republic', as every year brings over 300 days of sunshine and 300 millimeters (12 inches) of rainfall. The climate is classified as continental, with hot summers and cool winters. Summer temperatures often surpass 40 degrees above zero; winter temperatures average about minus 23 degrees, but may fall as low as low as minus 40.

History.
Rich archaeological remains in the area preserve an intriguing mix of Hellenistic, Buddhist and Scythian influences in the laconic desert castles of Khorezm and Bactria and trace a development to the rich Sogdian palaces and wall paintings of Varakhsha and Afrosiyab. But it was the arrival of Islam in the eighth century and its alien synthesis of styles that transformed the face of Central Asia as much as its soul.
The most powerful Kushan Empire and the kingdom of Seleucids, the Parthian Kingdom and the kingdom of Kwarazm, the state of Samanids and Tamerlane, the Bukhara Emirate, Khiva and Kokand Khanates once flourished in this region. The cities of Samarkand and Bukhara served as major centers of trade and enlightenment on the crossroads of the Great Silk Road linking the civilizations of the East and the West. The route took its name from silk, the commodity most in demand in Europe from China during the Roman period.

Economy.
In addition to beautiful landscapes and great history, Uzbekistan is also the world's fourth - largest cotton nation, world's seventh - largest gold producer and harbors significant reserves of oil and natural gas, as well as uranium, silver, copper, zinc, coal and lead. Other mainstays of Uzbek economy include fruit and vegetables, animal husbandry and textiles, but it is the republic's mineral wealth that most excites foreign investors.

The political system.
The political system of Uzbekistan is based on its Constitution in accordance to which the highest legislative body is a bicameral parliament - Senate and Oliy Madjlis (Supreme Council).The President who heads both the State and the Government is elected for seven years by universal suffrage through direct ballot.


Distance between cities of Uzbekistan.

	Tash.	And.	Bukh.	Gul.	Djiz.	Karshi	Navoi	Nam.	Nakus	Sam.	Term.	Ferg.	Urg.
Tash		447	616	118	203	558	509	432	1255	354	708	419	1119
And.	447		784	375	421	668	669	67	1342	516	892	73	1566
Bukh.	616	784		485	363	161	125	778	558	268	434	749	503
Gul.	118	375	465		106	353	254	369	1027	201	557	340	1001
Djiz.	203	421	363	106		247	248	415	921	95	471	386	916
Karshi	558	668	161	353	247		241	662	719	152	273	663	664
Navoi	509	669	125	354	248	241		663	383	153	477	634	610
Nam.	432	67	778	369	415	662	663		1336	510	886	85	1552
Nakus	1255	1342	558	1027	921	719	683	1336		826	992	1307	136
Sam.	354	516	268	201	95	152	153	510	826		376	481	765
Term.	708	892	434	577	471	273	477	886	992	376		857	937
Ferg.	419	73	749	340	386	633	634	85	1307	481	857		1538
Urg.	1119	1566	503	1001	916	664	610	1552	136	765	937	1538

The distance between cities is indicated in km.