| Termez Termiz / Термиз |
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| Sultan Saodat Ensemble | |
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Termez
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Uzbekistan |
| Province | Surxondaryo Province |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 140,404 |
Termez (Uzbek: Termiz/Термиз; Russian: Термез; Persian: ترمذ Termez, Tirmiz) is a city in southern Uzbekistan near the border with Afghanistan.
Some link the name of the city to thermos, "hot" in Greek, tracing its name back to Alexander the Great.[1] Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit taramato, meaning "on the river bank".[2] It is the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404 (1 January 2005), and is the capital of Surxondaryo Province.
Its most famous native son is Al-Tirmidhi, born in its suburb Bugh and buried 60 kilometers north of Termez, on the outskirts of Sherobod. He is locally known as Iso At Termezi or Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). Hakim-e-Termizi, one of the famous Sufi leaders, is buried in the suburbs of Termez. He is also known as Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). It was once a great center of Buddhism and Islam.
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The river Amu Darya divides the two countries of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge crosses the river to Hairatan in Afghanistan. Termez is also served by Termez Airport, with flights to Tashkent.
An ancient settlement was discovered near Termez, which was populated in the times of the Greco-Bactrian rule (3rd - 2nd centuries BC). It was the center of Buddhism at the period of the Kushans (1st-2nd c. AD). With the arrival of the Arabs, in the 7th-8th century, the city became a center of Islam. Said Baraka was from old Termiz. He was a philosopher, war strategist and religious nobleman, and Amir Temur’s teacher. During Amir Temur's time Termez continued to prosper, but it was destroyed at the end of the 17th century.
In 1897 the modern city emerged, with a Russian fortress and garrison. Termez was a primary transit point during the Soviet invasion (1979–89) of Afghanistan.
Termez has an arid climate with extremely hot, long summers and short, cold and bitter winters.
| Climate data for Termez | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8 (46) |
12 (54) |
18 (64) |
25 (77) |
32 (90) |
37 (99) |
40 (104) |
38 (100) |
32 (90) |
25 (77) |
18 (64) |
11 (52) |
24.7 (76.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1 (30) |
1 (34) |
5 (41) |
11 (52) |
16 (61) |
18 (64) |
21 (70) |
18 (64) |
12 (54) |
7 (45) |
3 (37) |
0 (32) |
9.3 (48.7) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 5.1 (0.201) |
22.9 (0.902) |
22.9 (0.902) |
17.8 (0.701) |
5.1 (0.201) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
5.1 (0.201) |
10.1 (0.398) |
33.1 (1.303) |
122.1 (4.807) |
| % humidity | 70 | 70 | 62 | 60 | 43 | 35 | 36 | 40 | 44 | 54 | 63 | 70 | 53.9 |
| Avg. rainy days | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
| Source: Weatherbase [3] | |||||||||||||
For many years after the Second World War the 108th Motor Rifle Division, the former 360th Rifle Division, was based in the town.
During the war in Afghanistan (1979–89) over 100,000 Soviet troops were based in Termez. The airbase is currently the main support base for German and Dutch forces operating with the ISAF in Afghanistan.
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