Essay on Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a country located in the northwest of the region known as the Middle East. It shares borders with the following countries: Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. It is approx. 173,000 sq. mi, or roughly the size of California. It has a pop. of about 30 million people. From 1924 to 1991, it was ruled by the Soviets. The vast majority of people fall into the ethnic group Uzbek, and are Sunni Muslim, but about 20% of the population is classified as: Russian, Tajik, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Tartar, and other. However, the most prominent culture is Uzbek, and they live very interesting lives. In their free time, Uzbek citizens enjoy many activities, such as biking and hiking in the countries mountainous regions, visiting the Chatkalsky Reserve, 60 miles from the capital Tashkent, go to the National Puppet Theatre in Bukhara, where they use puppets to act out various folk tales. As for sports, Uzbeks enjoy wrestling, such as kurash, and upright form developed in uzbekistan, horse-back riding, hiking in the mountainous southern region, caving in the 4,600 ft. deep Boi-Bulok, and 3,200 ft. deep Kievskaya. Also one can ski on the mountains of Tashkent. This is only a few of the things Uzbeks do for fun. For holidays, Uzbeks celebrate various Sunni Muslim holidays, as well as New Year’s Day (Jan. 1st), Women’s Day (March 8th), a popular holiday from the soviets, Navrus (March 21st), originally a zoroastrian holiday, which has lost its religious significance, but is still celebrated with Sumaliak soup, made from milk and grains, Victory Day (May 9th), a celebration of the defeat of the Nazis in 1945, and Independence day (September 1st), celebrated their independence from the USSR. When Uzbeks celebrated, the often visit friends and family to eat large meals and drink large amounts of vodka. Also, they have parades centered in the cities and towns. The government marks both Independence Day and Navrus with massive oudoor