Southern Uzbekistan is the southern, Tajik-dominated, mountainous portion of Uzbekistan to the south of Samarkand. Parts of it are in the region historically known as Bactria.
Regions
- Kashkadarya — The northern region on the western slopes of the Pamir-Alay mountains.
- Surkhandarya — The southern region. It embraces the valleys of the Sherabad and Surkhan rivers which flow into the Amu-darya from the north
The Hissar (Gissar) Mountain Range marks an ancient frontier between the two regions: Kashkadarya was part of Sogdiana while Surkhandarya was part of Bactria.
Cities
- 1 Boysun — In 2001 the city of Boysun was proclaimed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO along with its surrounding countryside.
- 2 Denov — rural town with a circular fortress and a Kushan archaeological site dated to the mid-1st century BC.
- 3 Derbent — Archaeological excavations in the area have revealed the existence of defensive system consisted of fortresses and massive walls.
- 4 Qarshi — meaning "Palace" in Uzbek, the city is famous for its production of woven carpets.
- 5 Sairob — picturesque village in a narrow valley
- 6 Shakhrizabz —Timur birthplace and a UNESCO World Heritage site
- 7 Termez — The southernmost city of Uzbekistan and an important border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan
Other destinations
- 1 Airtam — ruins of an important caravan resting place on the Great Silk Road.
- 2 Dalverzin Tepe — ruins of an ancient city of the Kushan Empire developed around an earlier Hellenistic fortress.
- 3 Gora Karakamar — cave complex carved into the Sherabad ridge on the border with Turkmenistan.
- 4 Iron Gates (Timur Darvaza) — in ancient times this narrow valley across the Hissar Mountain Range was used as a strategic passage between Bactria and Sogdia and was of great importance to any power in the region.
- 5 Kampyrtepa — ruins of an ancient city on the steep bank of the Amu Darya.
- 6 Kurganzol Fortress — ruins of a round fortress dated to the time of Alexander the Great.
Understand
Winters are the mildest in southern Uzbekistan, spring and autumn are bearable and summer are unbearable. In May-Augustus temperatures can reach an extreme 50° (122°F)
Talk
Get in
The 7 Termez International Airport (TMJ IATA), ICAO: UTST), is linked with Moscow-Domodedovo, St Petersburg and Tashkent by direct flights of Uzbekistan Airways and VIM Airlines.
Buses from Mazar-e Sharif, Dushanbe, Kerki are infrequent and rarely carry foreigners
Termez is linked to Dushanbe and Mary by rail lines.
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