CENTRAL ASIA Ms. Miller

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

http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/contemporarymaps/world/asia/c_asia4c.pdf

CENTRAL ASIA TIMELINE 100 B.C. Silk Road 700s Arab armies 1200s Mongol Armies 1500 Isolated and poor Mid- 1800s Russia 1991

Democracy vs. Communism President Elected by the People Leader chosen by previous leader System of Checks and Balances Collective Ownership Freedom to Choose (make your own wealth) Shared Wealth

Central Asia: Geography Landlocked There is no direct access to the ocean Mountains Pamirs Mainly in Tajikistan Hindu Kush Mt. Afghanistan Plains and Plateaus Rivers and Lakes http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://pamir.chez-alice.fr/Voiliers/Classe_A/Pamir/Images/Photos/m_pamir2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://pamir.chez-alice.fr/Voiliers/Classe_A/Pamir/Sisterwe.htm&usg=__p1Tcq2a1pDMZhqNk4fLSTkVP4rY=&h=430&w=640&sz=42&hl=en&start=49&sig2=0ESok1u8OsYkxMpijCedMQ&um=1&tbnid=UIsbkrzwP4vJYM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=137&ei=q8-1Se3LMY-gM4z9tN8K&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpamir%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36%26um%3D1 Pamirs

Central Asia: Plains and Plateus 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 http://www.galenfrysinger.com/asia/fergana01.jpg Fergana Valley. - Farming land used especially for cotton production

Central Asia: Major 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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambro/258402452/ Lake Balkhash and Kazakhstan flag

A R L S E http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/3000/3730/aral_sea_12aug03_250m.jpg&imgrefurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php%3Fid%3D3730&usg=__M6L0cBHriKqXOcrm1moLQX8Rhpg=&h=1386&w=784&sz=226&hl=en&start=24&sig2=UaQp5mbU3nvhCAL5KN6gGw&um=1&tbnid=zJVv_O291WuavM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=85&ei=Dte1SdvaDozaMZCEnd8K&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daral%2Bsea%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1

Central Asia: Major Rivers and Lakes 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) http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/61/5961-004-DA342CB3.jpg Oil Rigs in the Caspian Sea

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

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) http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/images/maps/afghanistan.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinations/maps/mapafghanistan.shtml&usg=__R37wK6zv6u6Aa0mxl01h8L5MXp8=&h=358&w=335&sz=16&hl=en&start=29&sig2=tY6rn0ainDLpzZQgTzBOEw&um=1&tbnid=TJ1gT6jQFyeSJM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=113&ei=TPa1SaLXCpTIMrm06OYK&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAfghanistan%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D18%26um%3D1

Central Asia: Kazakhstan 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 Downtown Astana

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 http://www.bespolka.com/bespolka%20web%20site/Central%20Asia%2002/Kyrgyzstan/flag_kyrgyzstan_web.jpg

Central Asia: Tajikistan 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 http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_raw_lin_son/246749223/ Pamirs

Central Asia: Turkmenistan 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! Mosque outside of Ashgabat

Central Asia: Uzbekistan 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 http://www.elenatour.uz/photo/uzb/images/Uzbekistan.-Bukhara.-Chor-M.jpg Mosque in Bukhara