Samarqand Region

Samarqand Region Samarqand viloyati
region
Samarqand in Uzbekistan
Coordinates: 39°50′N 66°15′E / 39.833°N 66.250°E / 39.833; 66.250Coordinates: 39°50′N 66°15′E / 39.833°N 66.250°E / 39.833; 66.250
Country	Uzbekistan
Capital	Samarkand
Government
• Hokim	Zoir Mirzayev
Area
• Total	16,400 km2 (6,300 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	3,444,800
• Density	210/km2 (540/sq mi)
Time zone	East (UTC+5)
• Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+5)
ISO 3166 code	UZ-SA
Districts	16
Cities	11

Samarqand Region (Samarkand Region) (Uzbek: Samarqand viloyati / Самарқанд вилояти / سەمەرقەند ﯞىلايەتى) is one of the regions of Uzbekistan. It is located in the center of the country in the basin of Zarafshan River. It borders with Tajikistan, Navoiy Region, Jizzakh Region and Qashqadaryo Region. It covers an area of 16,400 km². The population is estimated to be around 2,322,000, with some 75% living in rural areas.

Samarqand Region was established on January 15, 1938,^[1] and is divided into 14 administrative districts.^[2] The capital is Samarqand (pop est 368,000 inhabitants). Other major towns include Bulungur, Juma, Ishtikhon, Katta-Kurgan, Urgut, and Oqtosh.

The climate is a typically arid continental climate.

At the entrance to the Samarqand Region from the Qashqadaryo Region

Samarkand is the second-largest center for economy, science, and culture in Uzbekistan, after Tashkent. The Institute of Archeology at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan is based at Samarqand. The region's UNESCO World Heritage Site architectural monuments are world famous, and make Samarkand the largest center for international tourism in the country.

Samarqand Region also has significant natural resources, including construction materials such as marble, granite, limestone, carbonate, and chalk. The region's major agricultural activities are cotton and cereal growing, winemaking and sericulture. In terms of industry, metal processing (spare parts for automobiles and combines), food processing, textiles, and ceramics industries are the most active in the area.

The region has a well-developed transport infrastructure, with over 400 km of railways and 4100 km of surfaced roads. The telecommunication infrastructure is also well developed.

Administrative divisions

Districts of Samarqand Region

Latinization of district names according to Samarqand regional web site on gov.uz

Four cities and towns does not belong to any of the districts and have the status of cities of regional significance: Samarkand, Katta-Kurgan, Oqtosh, and Urgut.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Samarkand viloyat.