Turan Plains (Lowlands)

 The Turan lowlands are extensive lowland plains in southwestern Kazakhstan and the north-western parts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It is bounded by the Saryarqa (Kazakh uplands) in the north, the outliers of the Tien Shan, Pamir, and Alay mountains in the east, the Kopet-Dag Range in the south, and the Caspian Sea to the the west it is transversed by the lower courses of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya both of which drain into the Aral Sea. 

The plain encompasses two deserts, separated by the valley of the Amu Darya the Karakum and the Kyzylkum. The deserts comprise fine-grained sedimentary rocks overlain by extensive sand dunes and sand sheets.

The relief of the Turan Lowland is characterized by the alternation of accumulative lowlands and plains with relatively weakly dissected table plateaus the Usturt, Krasnovodsk and the Zaunguz Karakum. Most of the Turan Lowland has a sharply continental, desert climate.
the southern part has a more subtropical climate. 

Vegetation is  sparse, comprising xerophytic (drought-resistant) scrubs and short grasses. There are seasonal pasture lands in the margins of the deserts and irrigated agricultural land along rivers and oasis within the basin.

Source: Various Encyclopedia

Uzbekistan by "satellite"

Source: http://www.eoearth.org/files/207701_207800/207790/uzbekistan-satellite-photo.jpg

Uzbekistan draw for preliminary round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

Asia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup hopefuls learned their fate on tuesday when the draw for the second round draw for the Asian qualification matches was held in Kuala Lumpur.

Uzbekistan has been drawn to play in Group H along with Bahrain, Philippines, DPR Korea and Yemen.  Qualification matches will be held from 11 June 2015 to 29 March 2016. The group winners and the four best runners-up (a total 12 teams) will advance to the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup to be held in the Russian Federation. 

Source: http://www.uzdaily.com/articles-id-31857.htm

Uzbekistan bows out of AFC 2015 losing to South Korea 0-2 in extra time

Korea Republic 2 (Heung-Min Son 104', 119') Uzbekistan 0

South Korea in an extra-time thriller in Melbourne defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in the opening quarter-final of AFC 2015 with two goals to Bayer Leverkusen star Heung-Min Son.

Asian Football Cup Update:Group B Match Uzbekistan 1 - China 2

Asian Football Cup Update: China v Uzbekistan, Brisbane Stadium (Kick off 1 pm 14th January 2015). Uzbekistan took an early lead after 22 minutes through a goal from Odil Ahmedov against the run of play, a speculative long-range shot from outside the box that  deflected off the legs of the Chinese defensive midfielder Wu Xi and at half time Uzbekistan led China 1-0. Ten minutes into the second half Wu Xi made amends after converting a cross from Jiang Zhipeng which floated over the head of Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov. At 69 minutes China then went one up with a spectacular long range solo strike from substitute Sun Ke. Uzbekistan sadly could not find a late equaliser. Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov said that whilst they had the better of the first half, China responded well and made the most of two defensive lapses in the second. China now goes through to the semi final. Uzbekistan must now must beat Saudi Arabia (after their 4-1 win against North Korea yesterday) in  Melbourne on Sunday the 17th January to decide the pool runner-up and a spot in the semi finals. Good luck Uzbekistan!

Uzbekistan Vs North Korea - AFC Group B Match

Group B Match Uzbekistan vs North Korea

Source: AP

Uzbekistan kicked off the 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over North Korea. Igor Sergeev headed in the only goal after 62minutes during a rain-sodden second half to give Uzbekistan a 1-0 win over North Korea in the opening Group B match at the Asian Cup. Uzbekistan was the dominant side throughout, and despite the rainstorm that swirled around Stadium Australia, it created a host of chances."The first game is always tough and there was a little bit of pressure before the game'" said Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov.

Uzbekistan will play against China in the second match of the Group. The match will take place on 14 January 2015.
Source: http://www.freenewspos.com/en/latest-news-article/d/1110368/uzbekistan-north/asian-cup-uzbekistan-opens-with-1-0-win-over-north-korea

Education System in Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan 11 years of education are compulsory and free. Students attend school Monday through Saturday during the school year., Primary school begins at the age of 6 years. Children spend 4 years at primary school, followed at age 10 by 5 years of secondary education.

At 15 years of age students may leave education or choose between 2 to 3 years of upper seconday education at either general or technical vocational schools. The former provides a certificate of completed secondary education and the opportunity to enter university, the latter a diploma of specialized secondary education, through a network of secondary vocational institutions.

Non university-level vocational education is provided by national enterprise training centres and a number of business schools, as well as lycea that train professionals in new economic and service fields.

Teritiary education is available from over 60 higher education Institutes and Universities which graduate some 600,000 students annually. The three largest centres of Uzbekistan’s institutions of higher learning are Tashkent, Samarkand and Nukus.

Sources:

http://www.classbase.com/countries/Uzbekistan/Education-System

and photo (SMEC) http://www.smec.com/Default.aspx?aProjId=608

Book Review - Birds of Uzbekistan: Photoalbum

Birds of Uzbekistan: Photoalbum by Boris Nedosekov and Roman Kashkarov (Hertfordshire Press, London, 2012). 100 pages, 200 colour photos, ISBN 9780955754913. Hardback. (Cover: Common Myna and Chaffinch). (Cost in UK 25 Pounds)

This is a superb collection of full-colour photographs provided by the members of Uzbekistan Society for the Protection of Birds, with text in both English and in Russian. This book follows on from the recently published Central Asia field guide, itself a great advert for the region’s avifauna.

A coffee-table sized book, Birds of Uzbekistan: Photo-album presents almost 200 photos of over 100 species, with 95% of the photos having been taken in the wild and being unique to this publication. Each photo caption provides the exact date and place which makes it a great guide to travelling birdwatchers.

There are 468 species of birds in Uzbekistan, with 32 included in the International Red Data Book. After independence, Uzbekistan began to attract the attention of foreign tourist companies, and particularly those specialising in ornithological tourism and birdwatching. Birds of Uzbekistan is therefore a much-needed and timely portrait of this element of the country’s remarkable wildlife.

It has a two-page introduction and a double-page map showing the natural history sites of Uzbekistan. The authors present the photos by broad habitat types. Thus we have the birds of the plains (including deserts), waterbirds, birds of mountains and a short chapter entitled birds and people. Most species are illustrated with an image. Birds on the Critically Endangered such as the Sociable Lapwing, for instance, is given two whole pages, perhaps understandably, including some photos of the recently discovered large post-breeding flocks.

The taxonomic names (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clément's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species counts for Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan boasts a wide range of avian fauna because it lies on the crossing of migratory routes from Western Siberia and Kazakhstan to Iran-Caspian and Indo-Pakistani wintering grounds. More than 460 bird species are encountered in Uzbekistan because of this; and of these, more than 265 species are nesting. It is one of the most accessible places in the world to see birds such as Pander’s Ground-Jay, and other species such as the Pygmy Cormorant and Marbled Duck.

This book serves to highlight what a superb birding destination Uzbekistan is and how much there is still to explore. And for those who tire of birding, there are always the wonders of the ancient Silk Road to explore. Situated in the heart of Central Asia and measuring 448,844 km2 in surface area, Uzbekistan is the most densely populated of all Central Asian states.

Despite this, nature and wildlife in Uzbekistan remains rich and diverse. The extraordinary Ustyurt Plateau, the escarpments of which form the shores of the Aral Sea, is situated in the North of the country, while the vast Kyzylkum Desert neighbours the flood-lands of the tugai forests, which fringe the two largest Central Asian rivers, the Syrdarya and the Amudarya. The spurs of the Pamyrs-Alai and Tien-Shan mountain ranges, which are capped with snow all the year round, rise in the South and the East. There are also more than 500 lakes and reservoirs in Uzbekistan.


Recommended Blog: Birds of the Kyzylkum Desert (Uzbekistan) - Local and migrant species of birds of the Uzbek part of the Kyzylkum Desert.

Go to  Birds of Kyzylkum

Abandoned Fortresses in the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan

Good amateur Video 4:47 Sergio Tittarini of the abandoned fortresses in the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan: Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala.

Music: Feast of Khans by Vyacheslav Ismagilov and main theme of Yuri Khanin's soundtrack to Days of Eclipse

Go to http://vimeo.com/52366328\

Northern Deserts of Central Asia

Introduction

The Central Asian Northern Deserts are a mosaic of clay, stone, salt and sand and together with the Central Asian southern desert, supports the highest level of biological richness of all Eurasian deserts. The region is populated by middle Asian and north Caucasus species and is closer in nature to the Turanian subtropical realm. The area is dominated by rarefied semi-shrub communities formed by the perennial saltworts (Chenopodiacea) and sagebrushes (Artemisia spp.). Northern Turanian or Kazakhstanian species of plants are the dominant flora. Two prominent small mammals in this eco-region are jerboa and gerbil. The latter digs deep burrows which become critical for vegetation growth. Rare but still found are the goitered gazelle, marbled polecat, saxaul jay, Asian desert sparrow, and Houbara bustard.

Location and General Description

Photo: Usturt Plateau

The Northern Desert includes the Kazakh territory of Mangyshlak, the central part of the Ustyurt plateau (including a large part of the territory of Karakalpakstan) streatching across again into Kazakhstan and the northern and southern areas near Balkhash Lake. The northern deserts are distinguished the following climatic parameters: total solar radiation 130-140 kilocalories (kkal) per square centimeter (cm2) and the radiating balance 45 - 50 kcal./cm2. The mean temperature in January is –10 to -15oC and in July from 24 to 26oC.

The precipitation is distributed evenly across seasons with some increase observed in the spring. The quantity of precipitation compounds 100-150 millimeters (mm) per one year (for separate years up to 200mm). The influence of the Asian anticyclone begins to develop in this territory.

The relief of the Northern Desert is varied in form and origin. Low littoral plains near the Caspian Sea, arid denudational plateaus (northern part of Ustyurt and western part of Betpakdala), stony plains, and melkosopochnik - a highly eroded plateau (Mangyshlak, eastern part of Betpakdala and northern part near Balkhash Lake) are represented here. There are also sandy deserts (Muyunkum), and sandy regions near the northern part of Aral Sea and near Balkhash Lake. These vast areas are composed of the clay alluvial and alluvial-delta plains found in the lower reaches of the Chu, Ili and Emba rivers.

Perennial saltworts predominate in the Northern deserts. Species that prevail on clay soils of the region include Anabasis salsa, Salsola orientalis, and sagebrushes such as artemisia terrae albae, A. turanica, and A. gurganica to the west. The plant communities from Salsola arbusculae formis and Nanophyton erinaceum are typical in stony soils. Typical for sandy soils are psammophitic semi-shrubs such as Ceratoides papposa, Artemisia terrae albae, var. massagetovii, A. santolina, and A. songarica, and shrubs such as Calligonum aphyllum, Ephedra lomatolepis and psammophitic grasses (Agropyron fragile).

The spring flora of ephemers and ephemeroids aren’t as richly represented in the northern desert as in the southern deserts, however the colorful tulips (Tulipa greigii, T. albertii) decorate these areas in some years. The halophytic succulent semi-shrubs such as Halimione verrucifera, Kalidium folitum, K. Schrenkianum, anc Halocnemum strobilaceum, and annual saltworts (species of Petrosimonia, Climacoptera, Suaeda) dominate on solonchaks. Spireanthus schrenkianus (relic of Tertiary time) is
a rare plant growing in the central area of Betpakdala. It is associated with a specific community of species peculiar to chink ecosystems found in Mangyshlak, Ustyurt Plateau, and Ili depressions.

Biodiversity Features

The most common northern desert mammals are the long-eared hedgehog (Erinaceus auritus), long-quilled hedgehog (Piracohinus hypomelas), and tolai hare (Lepus tolai). Yellow gopher (suslik) is characteristic of the clay desert and feeds on the ephemeral plants. A variety of rodents such as gerbils (Rhombomys, Meriones), and more than ten species of jerboas (Allactaga, Dipus, Paradipus, Eremodipus, Stylodipus) are found here. Both gerbils and jerboas play an important role in the biological functioning of the clay desert. Numerous, deep burrows by the gerbils are critical for vegetation growth. Both form a significant part of the diet of nocturnal predators such as owl, steppe ferret (Mustela eversmanni) and corsac fox (Vulpes corsac). Endemic jerboas include the selevinia (Selevinia betpakdalensis), comb-toed jerboa (Paradipus ctenodactylus), and the three-toed and five-toed dwarf jerboas (Salpingotus heptneri, salpingotus pallidus, Cardiocranius). Also endemic are representatives of several mammalian genera (e.g., Diplomesodon, Spermophilopsis, Pyderethmus, Allactodipus, Eremodipus).

Saiga (Saiga tatarica) were once quite common throughout these deserts, coming here for winter periods. Their population size has been significantly reduced however. The goitered gazelle or djeiran (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa) and marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) are also rare and endangered. First attempts to reintroduce Asiatic wild ass (kulan) (Equus hemionus) were undertaken here in the 1980s. Until only recently, there was a chance that cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) continued to survive in some parts of this ecoregion.

Photo: Saiga http://www.fauna-flora.org/explore/kazakhstan/

Larger birds of the ecoregion include the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), black-bellied and pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alcata, P. orientalis), cream-colored courser (Cursorius cursor), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), steppe eagle, (Aquila rapax), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), and saker falcon (Falco cherrug). Among the more common bird species are wheatears (Oenanthe isabellina, O. deserti), desert warbler (Sylvia nana), the desert lark (Ammomanes deserti), desert raven (Corvus ruficollis), and desert shrike (Lanius excubitor). Pander’s ground jay or saxaul jay (Podoces panderi) is a rare and unusual member of the crow family. Asian desert sparrow (Passer zarudnyi) is also rare. Houboara bustard is one of the most endangered bird species in this region. It migrates from Saudi Arabia through Iran and Pakistan to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. It is threatened by elite hunters who spend large amounts of money for the opportunity to hunt it.

The list of desert reptiles includes a number of species of toad agamas, namely: Khentau toad agama (Phrynocephalus rossikowi), Molchanov's toad agama (P. moltschanovi), Strauch's toad agama (P. strauchi), spotted toad agama (P. maculatus), Sogdian toad agama (P. sogdianus), Said-Aliev's toad agama (P. helioscopus saidalievi). Other reptiles include gekkos (Alsophylax pipiens, A. laevis), Rustamov's skink gekko (Teratoscincus scincus rustamovi), Chernov's snake-lizard (Ophimorus chernovi), Ferghana sand lizard (Eremias scripta pherganensis), black-eyed lizard (Eremias nigrocellata), gray monitor (Varanus griseus), Afghan lytorhynch (Lytorhynchus ridgewayi), four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata), and the cobra (Naja naja oxiana). The invertebrate fauna of the sandy deserts is especially rich, represented by species such as grasshoppers, darkling beetles, scarabaeid beetles, butterflies, termites and ants.

The main anthropogenic threats are agriculture, hunting and poaching, and overuse of woody plants for firewood. Overgrazing of livestock is the main threat in non-irrigated areas. Biodiversity in the deserts of this region are adversely affected by desertification and localalised degradation of soils. Irrigated agriculture in marginal lands has significantly accelerated wind erosion and salinisation of soils.

References:

• Borodin, A. M., editor. 1985. Krasnaya Kniga USSR: Redkie i nokhodyashchiesya pod ygrozoi uschesnoveniya vidy zhivonykh i rastenii. Moscow: Lesnaya Promyshennost.

• German, V. B., A. L. Zatoka, E. Y. Shubenkina, and V. P.Shubenkin. 1990. Kaplankyr zapovednik. Pages 141-149 in V. E. Sokolov, editor. Zapovedniki of the USSR, Volume 6., Moscow.

• Ismagilov, M. I., L. A. Kuznetsov, and V. L. Rashek. 1990. Zapovednik barsa-Kelmes. Pages 42-56 in V. E. Sokolov, editor. Zapovedniki of the USSR, Volume 6., Moscow..

• Kovshar, A. F. 1990. Usturtskii zapovednik. Pages 30-41 in V. E. Sokolov, editor. Zapovedniki of the USSR, Volume 6., Moscow.

• Krever, V., O. Pereladova, M. Williams, and H. Jungius. 1998. Biodiversity conservation in central Asia: An analysis of biodiversity and current threats and initial investment portfolios. World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF), Washington DC.

• Lavrenko, E. M. 1962. Osnovnye cherty botanicheskoi geographii pustyn Evrasii Severnoi Africi, Moskow-Leningrad Izdatelstvo. Academii Nauk, SSSR.

• Pereladova, O., V. Krever and M. Williams. 1997. Biodiversity Conservation in Central Asia. Moscow. ISBN: 1559636084

• Rachkovskaya, E. I. 1995. Kazakhstan semi-deserts and melkosopochnik. Vegetation Map of Kasakhstan and Middle Asia. Scale 1:2 500 000. Komarov Botanic Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sankt Peterburg.

• Suslov, S. P. 1961. Physical geography of Asiatic Russia. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco. ISBN: 0199248028

• Syroechkovskii. E. E. 1990. Zapovedniks of central Asia and Kazakhstan. In V. E. Sokolov, editor. Zapovedniki of the USSR, Volume 6., Moscow. ISBN: 5244004964

Source: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151007/

 

Excellent Short Travel Videos on Uzbekistan

Excellent Short Videos on Uzbekistan

1. Explore the heart of the Silk Road Uzbekistan (4:44)

Go to  Uzbekistan Gem of the Silk Road

2. Travel through Uzbekistan in April 2012; Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, the Kyzylkum Desert & Nukus - Florian Witulski (7:38)

3. Magical Uzbekistan - Khiva, Euronews (5:01)

4. Magical Uzbekistan - Bukara, Euronews (5:01)

  5. Euronews Video - Samakand Nov 2013 (both 5:00)  

   

BEAUTIFUL CERAMIC PLATES OF UZBEKISTAN

Map of Uzbekistan

Recommended Tourism Videos of Uzbekistan

Ural Airlines flights to Nukus from Moscow

Ural Airlines started its “Moscow-Nukus-Moscow” flights on the 12th September 2012.
It is amongst the six leading Russian air companies and in 2015 over five (5) million air passengers used its services. It currently goes to some 190 destinations. Ural Airlines fleet includes six (6) A-310s, nineteen (19) A-320s and ten (10) A-321s. The flights are operated twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays by an Airbus A320. Departure of the flights are from  Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport.



FLIGHT SCHEDULE (Updated Jan 2016)

Timetable Nukus, Uzbekistan (NCU) to Moscow, Russia - Domodedovo (DME)

Flight	Operational days	Departing Nukus	Arriving Moscow	Duration	Aircraft
U62998	Wednesday	13:50	15:25	3:35	320
U62998	Saturday	16:40	18:15	3:35	320

Timetable

Moscow, Russia - Domodedovo (DME) to Nukus, Uzbekistan (NCU)

Flight	Operational days	Departing Moscow	Arriving Nukus	Duration	Aircraft
U62997	Wednesday	07:20	12:40	3:20	320
U62997	Saturday	10:05	15:30	3:25	320

Besides the Moscow – Nukus flight, Ural Airlines in 2016 offers a number of other air routes to Uzbekistan.

	Ekaterinburg (SVX) - Tashkent (TAS)
	Krasniojarsk (KJA) - Tashkent (TAS)
	Krasnodar (KRR) - Tashkent (TAS)
	Samara (KUF) - Tashkent (TAS)

	Ekaterinburg (SVX) - Namangan (NMA)
	Moscow (DME) - Namangan (NMA)
	Moscow (DME) - Navoi (NVI)

OTHER AIRLINES Important to remember that Gaspromavia Airline (Russia) and Uzbekistan Airways also operate on the Moscow – Nukus route. I recommend that you check with your travel agent which airline offers the best price and service for your needs.

Note: All times given are local to the airport.



Source - http://www.gazeta.uz/
http://www.airlines-inform.ru/
http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/flights/ural-airlines/nukus-moscow.htm

 
NUKUS AIRPORT


Photo: Nukus Airport

Nukus is the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. It is the administrative, economic, scientific and cultural centre of the Republic. The tree lined city lies in the Amu darya delta an oasis surrounded on both sides by the desert. It is also the home of the world famous State museum of arts named after I.V. Savitsky which hosts an important collection of works of Russian and Uzbek avant-garde art works and a large ethnological collection. Other interesting places in Nukus are the museum named after the Karakalpak poet Berdakh and the Parliament Buildings as well as the nearby ancient Mizdakhkan's necropolis (20Km from Nukus). 

News Item : Vice Speaker of Uzbek Parliament calls on Kyrgyzstan to abandon project of building Kambarata hydropower stations

Water is the lifeblood of Uzbeekistan and particularly the western areas such as Karakalpakstan. Blocking vital flows for questionable power stations in highly vulnerable areas is as such a critical national issue. I republish a recent commentary by the Vice Speaker of Uzbek Parliament and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan Boriy Alikhanov who has called on Kyrgyzstan to abandon the controversial project of building the Kambarata hydropower stations a long abandoned Soviet scheme. His most pressing concern is that the cascade of Kambarata stations upstream from Uzbekistans populous Ferghana valley is located in a critically dangerous 9-10-point seismic zone.

Key parts of Boriy Alikhanov statement translated into english follows.

"Toktogul water reservoir with capacity of 19.5 billion cubic meters of water is the subject to increased risk, since the breakthrough of a dam can cause flooding and destruction of 50 thousand square kilometers, including the entire eastern and north-eastern part of the Fergana Valley, and the deaths of millions of people. Kambarata hydropower stations are objects that increase the overall risk of catastrophe. The consistent location of these high-pressure facilities significantly increases the risk of disasters, as a breakthrough in the cascade of Kambarata dams is very likely to lead to disaster at the Toktogul hydropower station. It becomes obvious that the construction and operation of water facilities in the seismically dangerous area of Naryn River Valley poses a threat to the appearance of a cascade effect of destruction, when a slight break in one place will cause a chain reaction with the occurrence of uncontrollable flow of water and mud weight. This represents a huge threat to the safety of downstream areas of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan,"

He has also recalled that in accordance with international law, the requirements of the UN Convention "On Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes" (1992) and "On the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses" (1997), before implementation of planned measures, which may have significant adverse effects on other countries, a watercourse State must promptly forward a notice to the countries."This notification is accompanied by technical data and information, including environmental impact assessment in order to enable the notified States to evaluate the possible effects of planned measures. The Geneva Convention on the Impact of Hydropower Production to Other States also points out that in case a country wishes to carry out the development of electricity, which can cause serious harm to any Contracting State, the States concerned shall enter into negotiations with a view to concluding an agreement that allows for such development. The position of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan in this regard remains unchanged, it proposes to abandon the implementation of projects that threaten life of millions of people in the lower reaches of Transboundary Watercourses and supports options that are not related to risk of negative consequences"

Source: Central Asia News 28 June 2012

Weather in Nukus

Metoprog - Excellent Site

Go to Metoprog http://www.meteoprog.uz/ru/weather/Nukus/

or see below on main page for insert Nukus Daily Metrological data in Russian.


Annual Monthly Average Temperature/Rainfall

Savitsky Art Museum Collection - Nukus

“Crimson Autumn” (1931) by Ural Tansykbaev

Two of the iconic pieces from the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky


The Bull (1929), Vladimir Lysenko (1903-1950ies), 141.5 x 109.5 cm. Collection of Nukus Art Museum named after Savitsky, Karakalpakstan,

The Museum hosts one of the biggest collections of Uzbek and Russian avant garde art of the 20th century in the world.

The collection has some 90,000 items, including graphics, paintings and sculptures, as well as thousands of artifacts, textiles and jewelry, ranging from the antiquities of Khorezm’s ancient civilization to these great avante-guard works of the 1920ies and 30ies and those of contemporary Uzbek and Karakalpak artists.

If your coming to Western Uzbekistan to see the magnificent historical and architectural heritage make sure your Itinerary also includes a visit to Nukus the capital of Karakalpakstan and home of this fascinating art museum.

For more information see
http://www.savitskycollection.org

Film Review - The Desert of Forbidden Art (Go to Film Review Desert of Forbidden Art or go to top right hand side of blog). Learn about the history behind how Igor Savitsky and his collegues established this remarkable collection in Nukus.

1st September Uzbekistan Independence Day - National Anthem

September 1st - Independence Day Uzbekistan.

Hit on flag below to play the national anthem.

The Saddle Horse - Argamak

The Argamak - USSR Stamp 1968

The horse has played an integral role in the lives of the population of Central Asia for millennia. It is generally believed by most experts that the ‘Agramak’ known as the first saddle horse where bred for the first time on what is now the territory of modern Uzbekistan and that the majority of existing breeds of pure blood horses we have today inherited the best qualities of the Argamak. With the famous Uzbek horse breed the Ahaltekin its closest modern relative.

It is known from historical Chinese literature from the Tang Dynasty that in the year 138BC the Emperor Wu Ti sent an expedition over the "Heavenly Mountains" as the Tien Shan range was then known led by the diplomat and General Chang Jiang which took back the valuable Agaramak from an important horse breeding area, Davan in the 'Farg’ona Valley'. Before this time in China there were only the much smaller breeds as the Mongolian mountain horse.

Records of the period show that Agaramak horses were the most expensive merchandise that travelled along the great silk road from Khorazm and Samakand. In China the Argamak horse was venerated, and heards were carefully guarded as they were considered of great value. The Turkic people have always esteemed thier horses and called them “murod” broadly meaning satisfying, purposeful and desirable.

Today one of the main breeds are the “Karabair” who are characterized by their broad chests, small ears and amazing strength and endurance. Other local breeds are the Kurama as well as half breeds of Karabair and Ahaltekin.

Competitions featuring the “Karabair” are held throughout Uzbekistan. One of the most ancient national equestrian games is the “Uloq” in which large opposing sides of horsemen tussle with great ferocity and skill to hold onto a ram or goat carcass.

Uzbeks also call it as “kupkari”, which literally means 'business of many people'. The aim of Kupkari is to grabbing the carcass from rivals and be the first who brings it into the winning post. Only the most quick witted, deft and saddlefast horsememen usually win. The riders has a tunic and trousers made from thick cotton cloth. They put on a papakha 'astrakhan' hat, though leather helmets are now also gaining preference. The riders wrap their legs in thick cloth to avoid an injury, and wear broad-top boots with a thick sole for secure hold in the stirrup. The horses are fitted with smooth bridles, stirups and horsehoes to avoid injury.

According to the rules of the game, two winning posts – marra – are located one and a half kilometers away from each other. The marra is a circle on the ground some 20 meters in diameter. It is marked with scattered straw or laid with stones. The horseman needs to throw the carcass into the circle to score. Winners are awarded a valuable prize such as a carpet or money.It is played usually to in conjunction with Navruz and other national holidays or on special occasions; such as weddings or the the birth of a male heir.

Source: Uzbekistan Today