CENTRAL ASIA

1. CENTRAL ASIA Ms. Miller

2. Central Asia: Countries Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan • Why do all these countries end in “stan”? • “Stan” means “Land Of”

4. CENTRAL ASIA TIMELINE

5. Democracy vs. Communism

6. Central Asia: Geography Pamirs • Landlocked • There is no direct access to the ocean • Mountains • Pamirs • Mainly in Tajikistan • Hindu Kush Mt. • Afghanistan • Plains and Plateaus • Rivers and Lakes

7. Central Asia: Plains and Plateus Fergana Valley. - Farming land used especially for cotton production • Plains and Plateaus • Land slopes downward from east to west (Tajikistan  Caspian Sea) • The area between the mts and Caspian Sea is covered with plains and low plateaus • Fergana Valley • Uzbekistan • Major center of farming

8. Central Asia: Major Rivers and Lakes Lake Balkhash and Kazakhstan flag • Rivers and Lakes • Two rivers flow through the Fergana Valley: 1. Syr Darya 2. Amu Darya • These rivers flow into the Aral Sea • Located between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan • Lake Balkhash • Fresh water at one end, salty water at the other end • Kazakhstan

9. A R A L S E A

10. Central Asia: Major Rivers and Lakes Oil Rigs in the Caspian Sea • Caspian Sea • World’s largest lake • Landlocked • Over 130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea • Volga River is the largest river that flows into it • Oil in Caspian Basin (floor of the Caspian sea)

11. Central Asia: Natural Resources • Oil and Gas • Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan have oil and gas • Oil and gas only beneficial if it’s exported • Landlocked, no ocean ports, have to transport it through pipelines • hard to build and maintain • Economic and political turmoil • Water • Main water sources are the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers • Conflict over how to use them • Use water to irrigate cotton fields • Hydroelectricity

12. Central Asia: Afghanistan • Capital: Kabul • Long war with the Soviet Union (Russia) in the 1980s • Taliban • Mid-1990s • Radical Muslim group • Ended with U.S. conflict (9/11)

13. Central Asia: Kazakhstan Downtown Astana • Capital: Astana • First part of Central Asia to be conquered by the Russians • Economy was once tied to former Soviet Union (Russia) • Economy suffered when the Soviet Union collapsed • Oil allowed for the economy to grow back • Richest country in Central Asia

14. Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan • Capital: Bishkek • Kyrgyz means “forty clans” • Farming is the most important industry • Mix of irrigated crops and dryland farming • Does not provide much income

15. Central Asia: Tajikistan Pamirs Capital: Dushanbe Political turmoil in the mid-1990s Now a republic with an elected President Economy damaged by years of civil war Cotton is important for country’s income Only 5 to 6 percent of the land is arable

16. Central Asia: Turkmenistan Mosque outside of Ashgabat • Capital: Ashgabat • President holds all the power in the country • Voted President for life by the country’s parliament • Support Islam • Economy based on oil, gas, and cotton • Half of its country is planted with cotton fields • Has the longest irrigation channel in the world!

17. Central Asia: Uzbekistan Mosque in Bukhara • Capital: Tashkent • Largest population of Central Asian countries • Largest Cities • Bukhara • Samarqand • Famous for mosques and monuments • Government closely controls the economy • Economy is based on oil, gold, and cotton