Karakalpakstan

Infobox Country
native_name = Qaraqalpaqstan Respublikası
"Qoraqalpog`iston Respublikasi"
conventional_long_name = Republic of Karakalpakstan
common_name = Karakalpakstan

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map_caption = Political map of Karakalpakstan


map_caption2 = Location of Karakalpakstan (coloured purple) with surrounding countries
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capital = Nukus
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official_languages = Karakalpak, Uzbek
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demonym = Karakalpak
government_type = Autonomous republic of Uzbekistan
leader_title1 = President of the republic
leader_name1 = Musa Yerniyazov [ [http://www.karakalpak.com/stangov.html http://www.karakalpak.com/stangov.html] ]
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area_km2 = 160,000
area_sq_mi = 61,800
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population_estimate = 1,200,000
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population_estimate_year = 2005
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population_density_km2 = 7.5
population_density_sq_mi = 19.4
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currency = Som
currency_code = UZS
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cctld = .qr
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Karakalpakstan (Karakalpak: Qaraqalpaqstan Respublikası or "Қарақалпақстан Республикасы"; Uzbek: Qoraqalpog`iston Respublikasi or "Қоракалпоғистон Республикаси") is an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan. It occupies the whole western end of Uzbekistan. The capital is Nukus (Karakalpak: No'kis or Нөкис). The Republic of Karakalpakstan has an area of km2 to mi2|160000|precision=0. Its territory covers the classical land of Khwarezm, though in classical Persian literature, the area was known as "Kāth".

Demographics

The population of Karakalpakstan is estimated at 1,200,000, of whom 400,000 are of the Karakalpak ethnic group, 400,000 are Uzbek, and 300,000 are Kazakh. The Karakalpak were formerly nomadic herders and fishers, and were first mentioned in the 16th century. Their name means "Black Hat", but Karakalpak culture was so lost through Sovietization that the original meaning of the black hat is now unknown. The Karakalpak language is considered closer to Kazakh than to Uzbek. Indeed there are accusations that the ethnic group was an invention of the Soviet government to divide the Kazakh population. The language was written in a modified Cyrillic in Soviet times, and in the Latin alphabet since 1996.

Other than the capital Nukus, large cities include Hojeli (Uzbek: Ho'jayli; Russian: Ходжейли), Shimbai (Шымбай), Konirat (Қоңырат) and Moynaq, (Uzbek: Mo'ynoq; Russian: Муйнак), a former Aral Sea port now several miles inland.

Economy

The economy of the region, formerly heavily dependent on fisheries, is now supported by cotton, rice and melons. Hydroelectric power from a large Soviet-built station on the Amu Darya is also important.

The Amu Darya delta was once heavily populated, and supported extensive irrigation based agriculture for thousands of years. Under the Khorezm, the area attained considerable power and prosperity. However, the gradual climate change over the centuries, accelerated by the Aral Sea ecological disaster of the late 20th century has created a science-fiction like nightmare for Karakalpakstan. The ancient oasis of rivers, lakes, reed marshes, forests and farms are drying up, and being poisoned by wind-borne salt and chemicals from the dried bed of the Aral Sea. Allegedly summer temperatures have risen 10 degrees Celsius and winter temperatures have decreased by 10 degrees Celsius, and the number of health and respiratory problems has risen dramatically.Fact|date=February 2008

eparatist movement

Recently the website of Radio Free Europe broadcast a report on the beginnings of a separatist movement in Karalpakstan due to the bad environmental and social conditions of the republic, though other residents and politicians from the region strongly deny the existence or relevance of any genuine independence movement. [ [http://rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/04/9eb47eb4-1abd-4c89-8241-6ed1168693aa.html Uzbekistan: Shadowy Group Agitates For 'Free Karakalpakstan'] , "Radio Free Europe", April 5, 2008]

See also

*Karakalpak Autonomous Oblast
*Karakalpak language
*Provinces of Uzbekistan

References

External links

*About Karakalpaks – http://www.karakalpak.com
*Karakalpakstan – http://karakalpak.homestead.com
*Karakalpak music – http://berdakb.narod.ru
*Official site of the Republic of Karakalpakstan – http://sovminrk.gov.uz/rus/respublika_karakalpakstan/ ru icon