Where in the World is Uzbekistan?

People and Culture

Uzbekistan is a multinational country. The two main languages are Uzbek and Russian but you will also hear several other languages including Korean, English, German, Tajik and Turkish. Besides the Uzbek population, Uzbekistan contains many other nationalities, all with their own mode of life.

People in Uzbekistan wear different types of clothes. In villages you will observe women wearing traditional clothes like long variegated dresses and scarves. In cities they are less traditional and more modern.  Men wear pants more often than jeans. Shorts are worn rather rarely and usually only by people in the city.

Being a guest or inviting someone into your home is a big thing in Uzbekistan. People will often visit a friend or neighbor without a special reason. Uzbek people are known to be very hospitable and find it an honor to have a guest in their home. There are even special seating arrangements for guests. The eldest person or honored guest is usually invited to sit at the head of the table, away from the door. Young people or hosts sit by the door to act as “waiters.” They bring and take away dishes, pour tea and do other things.

Uzbekistan is also known for its national cuisine. Unlike their nomadic neighbors, the Uzbeks have been a settled civilization for centuries. Between the deserts and mountains, the oases and fertile valleys, they have cultivated grain and domesticated livestock. The resulting abundance of produce has allowed them to enrich their cuisine.

The seasons greatly influence the composition of national foods. In summer, fruits, vegetables and nuts are widely used in cooking. Fruits grow in abundance in Uzbekistan such as grapes, melons, apricots, pears, apples, cherries, pomegranates, lemons, figs and dates. Vegetables are also plentiful, such as eggplants, peppers, turnips, cucumbers and luscious tomatoes. There are also some lesser-known species of vegetables such as green radishes, yellow carrots, and dozens of pumpkin and squash varieties.

The Uzbeks prefer mutton to other kinds of meat; it is the main source of protein in the Uzbek diet. Beef and horsemeat are also eaten.

The wide choice of bread is a staple for the majority of the population. Round, unleavened break or leplyoshka/non is usually baked in a tandir (round ovens made of mud) and served with tea. The national bread is often sold on street corners. Some varieties are cooked with onion or meat while others are simply sprinkled with sesame seeds.

The most well-known Uzbek dish is plov or osh. It is cooked with fried meat, onions, carrots and rice. Sometimes raisins, barberries, chickpeas or other fruits are added.  Uzbeks are very proud of their skills to cook plov. A master plov chef cooks plov on an open flame, sometimes serving up to 1,000 people from a single cauldron on holidays or special occasions like weddings.

Tea is a reverent beverage in the finest Oriental traditions; it is the drink of hospitality. Tea is first served to guests and then to family members. Green tea is more popular in Uzbekistan than black but black is preferred in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan Republic is one of the four Republics of Central Asia. Uzbekistan is situated between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya,the greatest Asian rivers. It is the region of flat- lands, mountains and deserts. The territory of the Republic covers 447,4 thousand square kilometers and is larger than Great Britain or Italy. Uzbekistan borders on Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tajikistan and Turkmenia. In the South Uzbekistan borders on Afghanistan. The Republic consists of 12 regions and the Karakalpak Republic. There are about 80 towns and 86 settlements of urban type here.

The climate is continental. A great number of bright sunny days are good for cotton growing. Uzbekistan is one of the most important producers of cotton and silk. If you look at the map of the Uzbek Republic you will see coal, oil and natural gas re sources, deposits of marble, non-ferrous and other metals including gold.

According to the last data the population of Uzbekistan is 20 million people. About 120 nations and nationalities live on its territory. Uzbeks represent more than 70% (per cent) of the whole population. Titanic work to develop all sectors of the economy, of industry in particular, has been done in Uzbekistan. Once there was no industry there; today the Republic has more than 100 industries. Now planes, tractors, cotton harvesters, technical equipment for the textile and chemical industries are being manufactured in Uzbekistan .