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Geography and Environment of Uzbekistan
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Uzbekistan.
Overview
Located between the Amu Darya (Oxus) and Syr‑Darya (Jaxarteo) Rivers, Uzbekistan lies at the heart of central Asia. Along its borders are Afghanistan to the south, Turkmenistan to the west and south, Kazakhstan to the north, and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the east. Aside from Liechtenstein, Uzbekistan is the world’s only other doubly landlocked country. Covering an area of 500,000 square kilometers, Uzbekistan is roughly the size of California. Most of the country is desert (the Kyzylkum and the Karakum) or irrigated steppe, but it has rugged mountains in the east (a branch of the Tien Shan range), as well as semi‑arid grassland. Only nine percent of Uzbekistan’s land is arable.
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in
- Climate
- The area has a severe continental climate that is dry and hot in summer and cool and wet in winter. In the long summer, daytime temperatures often reach or surpass 40°C (104°F), but humidity is low. During the short winter, daytime temperatures usually stay above freezing, but can dip well below, and snow is not unusual. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/UZXX0004?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 4301 — Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
- Lowest Point
- -12 — Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly larger than California
- Border Countries
- Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
- Coastline
- Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 shoreline
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
- Natural Hazards
- NA
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT
- International Agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements