1. The Seven Stans Seven Countries of Central Asia Steve Pierce 2002 NCGA Summer Curriculum Workshop

2. The Seven Stans -stan suffix 1: place, place of 2: land Adopted into several languages from Persian. Central and Southwest Asia Afghanistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Source: “Central Asia: The Stans” National Geographic, February, 2002

3. The Seven Stans Regional Information Shared prorupt borders with one another; regional borders with China, Russia, India, Iran Collective population: 230 million Collective area: two-thirds larger than the European Union Climate: desert to semi-desert Landforms: isolated river valleys broken by soaring mountains Bodies of water: Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Arabian Sea

4. The Seven Stans Afghanistan MAP 23 years of almost constant warfare 1.5 million people killed 4 million refugees Land sown with land mines At least a decade needed to rebuild Afghanistan to its 1960’s development level

5. The Seven Stans Kazakhstan MAP Immense reserves of oil and natural gas 4,250 mile border with Russia Almost all of Kazakhstan’s oil production is shipped through Russia 60% of population speaks Russian Immense reserves of oil and natural gas 4,250 mile border with Russia Almost all of Kazakhstan’s oil production is shipped through Russia

6. The Seven Stans Kyrgyzstan MAP One of the poorest of the “stans” Debtor nation - needs money from international lenders According to the United Nations, around 88% of Kyrgyzstan's population live on less than $4 a day. Many of the skilled Russian workers have left, complaining of discrimination.

7. The Seven Stans Pakistan MAP Numerous ethnic divisions Defense accounts for 30% of its budget; education one-tenth as much Almost half the 144 million population is under age 15 Like India, Pakistan has tested nuclear weapons

8. The Seven Stans Tajikistan MAP 80% of population lives under the poverty line of $17 a month Tajik is a Persian, not a Turkic language Tajiks feel more connected to Iran culturally and historically Civil war since 1991; cease fire since 1997

9. The Seven Stans Turkmenistan MAP Large reserves of natural gas and oil Most repressive rule of the “stans” Leadership cult around president-for- life Niyazov Debtor nation - 2.3 billion dollar foreign debt

10. The Seven Stans Uzbekistan Repressive government crackdown on Muslims to combat Islamic fundamentalism Cotton grown on Soviet style state farms Nearly half the 25 million population is under 18 Unemployment draws many young people to militant Islam - “from Koran to Kalashnikovs” MAP

11. The Seven Stans: Central Asia Map Back