Sughd Region

Coordinates: 39°30′N 69°0′E / 39.500°N 69.000°E / 39.500; 69.000

Sughd
Вилояти Суғд
ولایت (استان) سغد
Region

Sughd in Tajikistan
Country  Tajikistan
Capital Khujand
Area
 • Total 25,400 km2 (9,800 sq mi)
Population (2010)
 • Total 2,233,500
 • Density 88/km2 (230/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code TJ-SU

Sughd Region (Tajik: Вилояти Суғд Viloyati Suğd/Vilojati Suƣd; Persian: Velâyate soqd ولایت سغد‎‎, transliterated as Sogdia Province) is one of the four administrative divisions and one of the three provinces (Tajik: вилоятҳо, viloyatho) that make up Tajikistan. Centered in the historical Sogdiana, it is located in the northwest of the country, with an area of some 25,400 square kilometers and a population of 2,132,100 (2008 est.),[1] up from 1,870,000 according to the 2000 census and 1,558,000 in 1989. It was founded in 1924 as part of Uzbek SSR and became part of Tajik SSR in 1929 after efforts of Shirinsho Shotemur.

The region shares a border with the Jizakh, Namangan, Samarkand and Fergana provinces of Uzbekistan, and the Osh and Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan. The Syr Darya river flows through it. It contains the Akash Massif and Mogoltau Massif Important Bird Areas. Sughd is separated from the rest of Tajikistan by the Gissar Range (passes may be closed in winter). The southern part of the province is the east-west valley of the upper Zarafshan River. North, over the Turkestan Range, is the Ferghana Valley. The province has 30% of Tajikistan's population[1] and one-third of its arable land.[2] It produces two thirds of the country's GDP.[3]

It was known as Leninabad until 1991, then Leninobod until 2000, then Sogd until 2004.

Economy

The economy of Sughd has been growing steadily since 2000, at the average rate of 13.2% in 2008 and 13.3% in 2009.[4] In 2009, farming, trade and industrial production contributed 28.2%, 25.8% and 14.0% to the GRP (gross regional product) of Sughd, respectively.[4] Since 2000, the output of industrial production increased two-fold, at an average annual growth rate of 5–8%.[4]

A free economic zone has been established in the region called Sughd Free Economic Zone.

Towns

The capital is Khujand (formerly Leninabad), with a population of 155,900 (2008 est.).[1] Other major towns include:

Districts

The region is divided into 14 districts (Tajik: ноҳия, nohiya or Russian: район, raion).[5]

Northern districts of Sughd

  1. Asht District
  2. Ghafurov District
  3. Ghonchi District
  4. Zafarobod District
  5. Istaravshan (Ura-Tyube) District
  6. Isfara District
  7. Konibodom District
  8. Mastchoh District
  9. Spitamen District
  10. Rasulov (Jabbor Rasulov) District
  11. Shahriston District

Southern districts of Sughd (Zeravshan Valley)

  1. Ayni (Aini) District
  2. Kuhistoni Mastchoh District
  3. Panjakent District

See also

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 3 Population of the Republic of Tajikistan as of 1 January 2008, State Statistical Committee, Dushanbe, 2008 (in Russian)
  2. ↑ Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan, statistical yearbook,State Statistical Committee, Dushanbe, 2008
  3. ↑ Robert Middleton and Huw Thomas, 'Tajikistan and the High Pamirs', Odyssey Books, 2008, page 166
  4. 1 2 3 Socio-economic situation of the Sughd oblast, Statistics Committee of Sughd oblast, Khujand: January–March 2010 (in Tajik and Russian)
  5. ↑ Republic of Tajikistan, map showing administrative division as of January 1, 2004, "Tojikkoinot" Cartographic Press, Dushanbe
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.