Message about Central Asia. Central Asian countries

Central Asia is a region that covers a fairly vast territory. It does not have access to the ocean, and it includes many states, some partially, some completely. The countries of Central Asia are very different in their culture, history, languages ​​and national composition. This region is distinguished only as a geographical unit (as opposed to ancient east, which was a cultural area), so we will consider each of its territories separately.

What powers are included in the geographic area

So, to begin with, we will consider all the countries and capitals of Central Asia in order to form a complete picture of what lands are included in its composition. We note right away that some sources single out Central Asia and Central Asia, while others at this time believe that they are one and the same. Central Asia consists of such powers as Uzbekistan (Tashkent), Kazakhstan (Astana), Tajikistan (Dushanbe) and Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek). It turns out that the region is formed by five former Soviet republics. In turn, the countries of Central Asia comprise these five powers, plus western China (Beijing), Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar), Kashmir, Punjab, northeastern Iran (Tehran), northern India (Delhi) and northern Pakistan (Islamabad), It also includes the Asian regions of Russia, which are located south of the taiga zone.

History and features of the region

For the first time, the countries of Central Asia as a separate geographical region were identified by the geographer and historian Alexander Humboldt at the end of the 19th century. As he stated, the historical signs of these lands were three factors. Firstly, this is the ethnic composition of the population, namely the Turks, Mongols and Tibetans, who over the centuries have not lost their characteristics and have not assimilated with other races. Secondly, the way of life that was inherent in almost every one of these peoples (with the exception of the Tibetans). For centuries they fought wars, expanded the borders of their powers, but despite this, they retained the originality and uniqueness of their nation and traditions. Thirdly, it was through the countries of Central Asia that the famous Silk Road passed, which was the basis of trade relations between East and West.

Central Asia or part of the CIS

At the moment, five former Soviet republics represent the region of Central Asia, which from time immemorial has had its own culture, religion and features of life. The only exception has always been Kazakhstan, since completely different people have always coexisted in these territories. Initially, when creating Soviet Union, even it was decided to make this state part of Russia, but later it became part of the Islamic republics. Today, Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia are a significant part of the region, which is full of minerals, rich history and at the same time many religions of the world coexist in it. This is one of the few places where there is no official belief, and everyone is free to confess their God's Word. For example, in Alma-Ata, the Central Mosque and the Ascension Orthodox Cathedral are located nearby.

Other countries of Central Asia

The total area of ​​the region is 3,994,300 square kilometers, and most of the cities, even the largest ones, are not particularly densely populated. Russians began to leave the capitals and other important megacities of these countries en masse after the collapse of the Union, which led to a demographic decline. Uzbeks are considered the most common race in the region. They live not only in Uzbekistan, but are also national minorities in all the other four states. In addition, Uzbekistan itself can be distinguished against the background of the whole of Central Asia by the presence of a huge number of cultural and architectural monuments. There are quite a lot of madrasas and Islamic colleges in the country, where people come to study from all over the world. Also on the territory of the state there are museum cities - Samarkand, Khiva, Bukhara and Kokand. There are a lot of Muslim ancient palaces, mosques, squares and viewing platforms.

Asia that stretches to the very East

It is simply impossible to separate the region of Central Asia from the Far East for cultural and historical reasons. These powers were formed, one might say, in unity, they both waged wars with each other and concluded various agreements. Today, the countries of East and Central Asia maintain friendly relations, and are also characterized by similar racial characteristics and some customs. By itself, East Asia includes such developed powers as China, Mongolia (a controversial issue - it is both in the Central part of the region and in the East), South Korea, Taiwan, North Korea and Japan. This one is different geographical area First of all, religion - here all Buddhists.

Conclusion

At the very end, we can say that the countries of Central and East Asia are a synthesis of cultures that have been mixed over the centuries. Representatives of a huge racial family live here - the Mongoloid, which includes many subgroups. We also note a trifle, but a fact - the locals are very fond of rice. They grow it and consume it almost every day. However, this geographical region did not become completely unified. Each country has its own language, its own characteristics and racial differences. Each religion has its own different direction, each art form is also unique and unrepeatable. On the territory of Central and East Asia, the most interesting ones were born, which spread throughout the world and became a symbol of these countries.

Already passed under Chinese jurisdiction in July 1997.

In the region under consideration there are countries of different types and different levels social economic development.

According to the economic and geographical typology, Japan belongs to the group of economically highly developed countries (after the United States, it ranks second in the world in terms of economic power). China and the DPRK are still socialist states, Mongolia is called a post-socialist country, and Taiwan and the Republic of Korea () belong to the group of developing states (although, according to the level of its economic development, the Republic of Korea, according to many scientists, can already be classified economically) . Macao is a non-self-governing territory.

Japan - the only highly developed state in this region - is a constitutional monarchy. According to the current constitution, the emperor is "a symbol of the state and the unity of the people." The highest body of state power and the only legislative body in the country is the parliament.

In 1931, Japanese troops occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 they started a war against China. Having entered into an alliance with the Nazi and fascist, during the Second World War on December 7, 1941, militaristic Japan unleashed a war against the United States with its attack on Pearl Harbor (Hawaiian Islands, USA). In 1942, it occupied large territories in the South: the peninsula, Malaya, Burma, which significantly increased the colonial possessions of Japan. But these territories were previously colonies of European states (Great Britain,), that is calm situation could not be in the region - open military operations were conducted here during the Second World War. It was during this period that local national liberation movements began to gain strength and grow stronger.

Germany and its allies lost World War II. On September 2, 1945, under the blows of the armed forces of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition, Japan capitulated. Post-war events unfolded as follows.

Under the terms of the peace treaty with Japan, Korea was promised independence. Northeast China (Manchuria), the island of Taiwan (Formosa) and other Chinese islands captured by Japan were supposed to be returned. South Sakhalin was returned to the Soviet Union and the Kuril Islands, which once belonged to Russia, were transferred.

During the hostilities in this area, the Americans occupied everything, as well as the Caroline and Mariana Islands under Japanese rule (later, the United States took custody of the islands on behalf of the islands). The southern part of the Korean Peninsula (up to the 38th parallel) also entered the zone of American occupation, while the northern part was occupied by Soviet troops.

They concluded the so-called Security Guarantee Treaty with Japan, which gave them the right to maintain their armed forces there and establish military bases. In 1960, the United States and Japan entered into a new agreement on mutual cooperation and security guarantees, which is automatically renewed.

Currently, there are two states on the Korean Peninsula with different political system: North Korea and Republic of Korea.

Korea is one of ancient states East Asia with a peculiar history and culture. The first information about it dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. A single feudal state was formed in the 7th century. The last royal dynasty lasted from 1392 to 1910. Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 Korea was occupied by Japan. After World War II (in 1945), the country was divided along the 38th parallel, which became the dividing line between Soviet and American troops.

In 1948, the Republic of Korea was officially proclaimed in Seoul ( South Korea), c - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) - North Korea. In 1950-53. there was a war on the peninsula, which was the result of a sharp confrontation between the two republics on the issue of uniting the country. The post-war armistice agreement is still preserved. An important event was the accession in 1991 of both Korean states to the UN.

Mongolia is a country that also has a long history of its existence. founder of the first united state in early XIII in. was Genghis Khan. Later, in the 17th century, Mongolia was conquered in parts by the Manchus and until 1911 was part of the Qing Empire. Then the independence of the country was proclaimed and national statehood was restored in the form of unlimited feudal-theocratic statehood. In 1915, the status was limited to broad autonomy under the suzerainty of China and the patronage of Russia (Chinese troops were later brought into the country).

In 1921, as a result of the struggle of the Mongolian people for liberation, the victory of the people's revolution was proclaimed. Mongolia became a people's republic (MPR) and for many years developed in close cooperation with the USSR. Foreign trade was with the member countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), and the main trading partner was the Soviet Union.

At present, Mongolia (Mongol Uls) is a "post-socialist state", a republic with a presidential form of government, an agrarian-industrial state. In the early 1990s, the former socialist associations were transformed into joint-stock companies, and the privatization of livestock was basically completed. The country is undergoing transformations to move from a planned system to a market economy.

China is one of the oldest, dating back to the 14th century. BC e. During the slaveholding and feudal periods of development, centralized empires repeatedly appeared on its territory, disintegrating into independent principalities. From the 17th to the 20th centuries the country was ruled by the Manchu Qing dynasty, which with its policy brought the country to the position of a semi-colonial state. In the 19th century China has become an object of colonial expansion by a number of imperialist powers (Great Britain, Japan, Germany, and others).

A major event in China's recent history was the Xinhai Revolution (1911-1913), which overthrew the Manchu monarchy and proclaimed the Republic of China. During the war against Japanese aggression in China (1937-45), the USSR provided great assistance to the Chinese people. In 1949, after the defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army and the completion of the people's revolution, the People's Republic of China was formed on the mainland.

And the remnants of the Kuomintang regime overthrown in the country fled to the island of Taiwan (or the island of Formosa - formerly a possession of Japan). The "government of the Republic of China" was established there. According to the constitution in force in Taiwan, the Taipei regime is a republic headed by a president. The highest representative body is the National Assembly. Currently, the government of Taiwan claims to represent the world community on behalf of all of China, the mainland of which, according to Taipei, is "temporarily occupied by the communists." For its part, it believes that Taiwan should recognize the government of the People's Republic of China and proposes the formula "one state - two systems" (that is, Taiwan becomes a special administrative region under the jurisdiction of China). Taipei offers 76 its own formula - "one country - two governments." The situation has not changed for many years.

Now Taiwan is referred to the group of "new industrial countries" - "four small economic dragons". Along with and the Republic, he plays more and more important role in the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.

In China in last years there is a very strong economic recovery and a policy adjustment. In 1992 (at the XIV Congress of the Communist Party of China), a course was proclaimed for further deepening economic reforms and transferring the economy to the rails of a "socialist market economy." An open foreign economic policy is being implemented. The country is moving to the forefront in the world - in terms of growth rates and GDP volume, iron and steel smelting, etc. However, all socio-economic indicators per capita are still very much inferior to the corresponding indicators of economically developed countries of the world.

In July 1997, Hong Kong, a former colonial possession of Great Britain, passed under the sovereignty of China (like Taiwan, it belonged to the group of "new industrial countries"). China guarantees Hong Kong the preservation of a special economic and legal status for the next 50 years. How events will actually unfold, the future will show.

The subcontinent Central Asia is located in the center of the Eurasian continent. Determining the boundaries of this region has some difficulties. The concept of "Central Asia" was first introduced by A. Humboldt in the middle of the 19th century. In his three-volume monograph, which bears this name (1843), he refers to the region all Asian territories with desert landscapes, remote from the oceans and protected from their influence by mountains. According to A. Humboldt, the entire Central Asia and Tibet are included in the subcontinent.

V. A. Obruchev called the desert plateaus north of Kunlun Central Asia. The author of the monograph “Central Asia” (1959), V. M. Sinitsyn, considers the inland position with mountain barriers along the margins, the aridity of the climate and the absence of peripheral runoff to be specific features of the region. According to these features, all the internal basins of Central and Central Asia, most of Tibet (except for the east) and the Eastern Pamirs should be attributed to the subcontinent.

IN study guide“Foreign Asia” (1956), the author of the relevant section, a well-known researcher and expert on this region, E. M. Murzaev, refers to Central Asia all the internal basins of Asia from the state border of the former USSR in the north to the southern outskirts of Tibet. In T. V. Vlasova's regionalization, approximately the following boundaries are accepted.

After the collapse of the USSR, the territory of the Central Asian republics and Kazakhstan is considered as part of the Central Asian subcontinent. Thus, Central Asia includes the following physical and geographical countries: Central Kazakhstan, the plains of the Turan Plate and the Balkhash region, the mountains and basins of Northwestern China and Central Asia, the plains and plateaus of Southern Mongolia and Northern China, Northern Mongolia, Pamir - Hindu Kush - Karakoram , Kunlun - Altyntag - Nanshan, Tibetan Plateau. In the north, the subcontinent is bordered by Western Siberia and the mountains of Southern Siberia, in the east with Eastern, in the south - with South Asia, in the west - with the Southern Urals and Mugodzhary, the Caspian Sea, then in the southwest - with the Iranian Highlands.

The general features of the nature of the subcontinent are determined by the position in the central part of the mainland, within the temperate and subtropical zones with a pronounced continental climate.

The main natural features of Central Asia:

- "lattice-honeycomb" structure of the surface. Almost the entire region is a system of basins bounded by more or less high mountains and uplands. The central parts of the basins are hard boulders of different geological age, mountain uplifts are formed by neotectonic movements within mobile belts of different ages. On this basis, all the physical and geographical countries of the subcontinent are similar, except for Central Kazakhstan.

- Large amplitudes of heights. They are associated with the activity of neotectonic movements (the Turfan depression lies at an altitude of 154 m below sea level, the Chogori mountain in the Karakorum has an absolute height of 8611 m). There is evidence that over the past 10 thousand years, the Kunlun, Nanshan and other mountains have risen by 1300-1500 m.

- Aridity of the climate, due to the inland position and the hollow relief. Many features of different components of nature are connected with this.

— Thus, the erosional dissection of mountain slopes occurred only in pluvial epochs; glaciation did not develop, as it was not enough; ancient leveling surfaces have been preserved; modern denudation is slow, mainly due to the processes of weathering, scree and the work of temporary streams; clastic material is not carried away far from the slopes where it was formed (“mountains are drowning in their own debris”); groundwater is usually deep, often mineralized; the rivers are shallow, sometimes they do not flow anywhere; lakes for the most part salty, often with unstable outlines, and in some cases “wander” from one shallow basin to another; dominate, and dry steppes on brown, gray-brown and in some places chestnut soils; solonchaks and solonetzes are widespread; plants and animals have adaptations to live in arid conditions.

- Disorganized runoff (according to V. M. Sinitsyn): areas of internal runoff and endorheic ones predominate. This is due to both the aridity of the climate and the hollow structure of the territory.

- The highest degree of continental climate: annual temperature amplitudes can reach 90 ° C, low winter temperatures are especially characteristic. The features of continentality are most clearly manifested in numerous large and small basins, so characteristic of the relief of the region.

— Central Asia has long been a little-studied region. Mountain barriers, harsh climatic conditions, remoteness from European countries prevented the penetration of scientific expeditions into the Central Asian territory. The political isolation of many parts of the region also played a role. Only in the 19th century the first expeditions took place, and, overcoming natural obstacles and the resistance of the Mongolian, Tibetan and Chinese authorities, scientists from many countries explored and mapped this territory.

The contribution of Russian scientists and travelers is great. The expeditions of N. M. Przhevalsky (1870-1885), G. N. Potanin (1876-1899), M. V. Pevtsov (1876-1890), T. E. Grum are connected with the discovery for Europeans, description, study of Central Asia -Grzhimailo (1889-1903), V. I. Roborovsky (1890-1895), V. A. Obruchev (1892-1894), P. K. Kozlov (1893-1909), G. Ts. Tsybikov (1899-1902) ), etc. These were complex expeditions, very difficult and very productive. Research continues today. In the 20-30s. 20th century artist with a historical and philological education, archaeologist, ethnographer N.K. Roerich organized two long expeditions to Central Asia, during which extensive material was collected about the nature and population of the region. Europeans had more ancient contacts with the states of Central Asia.

— Central Asia is populated unevenly. Mainly river valleys and intermountain basins, where there is water, have been developed, as well as some northern regions with a more favorable climate. Vast areas within the region are generally devoid of permanent population. The lack of water hinders the use of the natural resources of Central Asia, but due to this, within the subcontinent, relatively little-modified natural complexes occupy large areas. The environmental conditions that are extreme for organisms and prevail in the region require extremely careful and thoughtful steps in its development. The misuse of scarce water supplies has already led to irreparable consequences in some parts of the subcontinent.

Mountains and basins of Northwestern China and Central Asia

This physical and geographical country is located between the mountain uplifts of the Kunlun-Altyntag-Nanshan system from the west and south and the Mongolian Altai from the northeast. In the north, the border runs along the foothills of the Tien Shan, Dzungarian Alatau and Tarbagatai, and in the southeast - along the foothills of the Beishan Plateau. The whole territory lies within China and Kyrgyzstan and unites two large basins - Dzungar and Kashgar (Tarim), surrounded by mountains.

In Northwestern China, the features characteristic of all the physical and geographical countries of Central Asia are most clearly manifested.

It combines folded-blocky mountain systems of the Paleozoic geological age, raised by neotectonic movements along faults to a great height, with depressions filled with thick sedimentary strata of different ages.

The ridges of the Eastern Tien Shan are separated from the Dzhungar and Kashgar basins by faults and descend into these basins in gentle steps, forming a system of foothills. In the Tien Shan there are two axial ranges with a strip of depressions between them. Typically alpine relief is inherent only separate parts the highest ridges processed by glaciers. Fragments of ancient leveling surfaces are clearly expressed, which indicates a long and complex history of the development of the mountain system. The surface of the Dzhungar and Kashgar basins is covered with sand and rubble as a result of developed processes of physical weathering and the removal of material from the mountains by temporary streams and a few rivers. Along the foothills on the outskirts of the Kashgar basin stretches a strip of forests. The central parts of the depressions are massifs of loose sands - the Dzosotyn-Elisun and Takla-Makan deserts.

The Eastern Tien Shan is characterized by a sharp differentiation of heights.

On the border of China and Kyrgyzstan, there are the Pobeda peak - 7439 m (the highest point of the Tien Shan) and the Khan-Tengri massif - 6995 m. Among the intermountain basins of the system is the Turfan depression, the dry bottom of which is lowered 154 m below the ocean level.

The entire region has a sharply continental climate.

Even on the slopes of the mountains, up to 300 mm of precipitation falls. In the basins, their number decreases to 100 mm, and in some places even less. Summer showers sometimes do not reach . Summers are hot, with large diurnal temperature ranges. Winters are cold - in Dzungaria (40th latitude), the average January temperatures are up to -16 ° C, in the more southern Kashgaria - 7-10 ° C (36-42 ° N). There is little snow, only high in the mountains during the winter a snow cover accumulates, the melting of which gives water to the rivers.

Almost the entire territory belongs to the internal runoff basins. The main rivers are the Tarim and the Ili.

Along the Ili in the intermountain depression is the largest oasis - Kuldzhinsky. Further, the river flows down to the basin of Lake Balkhash. Tarim wanders around the basin, breaks up into arms, changes direction, leaving oases with settlements without water, which have to be abandoned because of this. The place of the mouth of the river has not been determined either: in different years it flows in different directions. Most of the rivers flowing down from the mountains into the basins are lost in the sands, dismantled for irrigation, or sometimes fill salt lakes with water. The wandering lake Lobmore is widely known, which changes its area, shape and even location depending on which rivers and how much water they carry into it. The sands periodically cover the channels of the Tarim and Konchedarya, which feed the lake, so that at times it disappears altogether.

Some areas of sandy and gravelly deserts are completely devoid of vegetation, in other places they are typical desert communities with wormwood, saltwort, ephedra, camel thorn, tamarisk, sometimes with saxaul on the sands.

Only in the marginal mountains at altitudes of 1800-3000 m do forests of pine, Tien Shan spruce, elm, and aspen appear. Poplar, desert elm, and willows grow along dry riverbeds. There are meadows in mountain valleys and on the slopes of high mountains.

The typical Central Asian fauna with an admixture of Siberian species is quite well preserved in the region. Przhevalsky's wild horses, camels and donkeys still live in Dzungaria. In the mountains - deer, mountain goats and rams, wild boars. There are predators - a red wolf, a gobi bear, a leopard, even a tiger in the riverside thickets. Lots of birds.

The relatively rare population of the region is concentrated mainly in oases along mountain slopes and river channels. Agriculture is possible only with artificial irrigation.

The most densely populated valleys and basins and slopes of the Tien Shan, where in some places even rain-fed agriculture is possible. Where people live, systems of canals, reservoirs, wells, gutters, etc. have long existed. Cotton, melons are grown, grapes and fruit trees are grown with special measures to protect against winter frosts. Cattle graze in the mountains. As elsewhere, in an arid climate with hot summers, there is a great danger of desertification. Additional difficulties for life are created by the inconstancy of riverbeds and lake basins, moving sands that fill watercourses and dwellings. Excavations show that the population within the region often had to leave their habitats and move to other places where there is water.

Plains and plateaus of southern Mongolia and northern China

The Gobi and Beishan plateaus, the Ordos plateau, and the Alashan desert have typical Central Asian features. They form a system of plateaus, high plains and blocky mountains, located between the Great Khingan, Yinshan and Loess plateau in the east and southeast, Nanshan - Altyntag - in the southwest, Kashgaria and Dzungaria - in the west, Northern Mongolia - in the north. The territory belongs to Mongolia and China.

The region has a geological basis of different ages and structurally different.

For example, the Beishan Plateau is a socle massif on a Precambrian base raised to a height of more than 2000 m. It is believed that this is one of the oldest land areas within Central Asia with a stable tectonic regime. The Gobi is a system of small hills, ridges, island ranges and between them layered plains (900-1200 meters in height), composed of Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary rocks. The Ordos Plateau is a syneclise filled with Mesozoic sandstones.

Despite such a variety of geological structure, the physical-geographical country has some common features of nature.

Arid sharply continental climate is typical for the entire region. The amount of precipitation does not exceed 300 mm, and in the interior and western regions - 200 mm, in some places even less than 100 mm per year. Summer precipitation.

Despite modern arid conditions, erosional landforms are widespread in the region. This is evidence that in the past there was a humid climate. It is believed that during the Ice Age there were many rivers and lakes in this area. The pluvial epoch was replaced by an arid one, even drier than at present, during which aeolian processes developed.

Large temperature amplitudes are characteristic of modern climatic conditions.

Summers are hot (at average monthly temperatures of 22-24°C, it can warm up to 45°C, and the soil - up to 70°C). Winters with frosts, little snow. The daily temperature fluctuations are great, especially in transitional seasons, when they can reach 2-3 tens of degrees.

There are almost no rivers (the Huang He River is a transit watercourse that has no tributaries here). The lakes, as in other regions of Central Asia, are salty, endorheic, with variable levels and outlines. At the foot of the mountains there are exits ground water, which are used by the population along with shallow wells. These are the main sources of water.

The vegetation is desert: on the sands - thickets of saxaul, caragana, dzhuzgun, there are ephemeroids, on gravelly areas and salt marshes - wormwood, saltwort, gobi feather grass. Desert elm, poplar and tamarix sometimes grow along dry riverbeds. The altitudinal zonality is not expressed: the slopes are often entirely occupied by desert formations or dry steppes. Only in some places (in Alashan and Yinshan) there are small areas of forests. In the north of the Gobi, cereal steppe groups are developed - good pasture lands.

The population is rare. The main occupation is cattle breeding, sheep, camels, horses are bred. Agriculture exists in the rare river valleys. The main problems are related to the lack of water. There is evidence that people had to leave their habitable places due to the depletion of water sources.

Hindu Kush - Karakoram - Pamir

Some physical and geographical countries are included in Central Asia, in which, on the one hand, the features of nature that are common to the entire continent are definitely manifested, but on the other hand, they are distinguished by features associated with the fact that these are high-mountainous regions. The Pamirs, the Hindu Kush and the Karakorum, the Kunlun-Altyntaga-Nanshan systems and the Tibetan Plateau are areas that have very specific features of nature, since these are high and highest mountain systems. According to some zoning schemes, they are distinguished into a special subcontinent - High Asia (Vlasova T.V. . M., 1976). However, these regions have natural features that are typical for the whole of Central Asia: aridity and extreme continental climate, disorganized runoff, the predominance of desert landscapes, the species composition of flora and fauna, etc.

In the north, the Pamir mountain junction is separated from the Southern Tien Shan (Pamir-Alai) by the Alai valley and the river. Panj, in the west of Kopet-Dag - the tectonic valley of the river. Herirud. In the south, the border runs along the foothills of the Hindu Kush, in the east - along the depressions between the Karakorum and the Kunlun ranges.

The Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Pamirs are included in the mountain junction, which was apparently formed as a result of the powerful pressure of the Hindustan block, which, when the Tethys Ocean closed, came into contact with rigid Paleozoic structures in this area, which caused the manifestation of active tectonic movements and the formation of the highest folded and blocky-folded mountain systems. The structure and features of the nature of the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush are not well known, since these are hard-to-reach and sparsely populated regions. The Pamirs are better studied. It is clear that the main natural features of all three mountainous countries are associated with high mountain relief and position in the center of the continent in the outlying parts of the high uplands - Iranian and Tibetan. Internal differences in these mountain systems are determined by the altitudinal zonality and, to a large extent, by the exposure of the slopes.

All three mountainous countries are based on folded structures formed during the epoch of the Alpine orogeny. Paleozoic crystalline rocks emerge in the axial zones, while Mesozoic sedimentary complexes crumpled into folds predominate over most of the territory. Within the Pamirs (especially in the northwest), dislocated Paleozoic limestones and sandstones are widely represented. The Pamirs are distinguished by the predominance of red-colored rocks of different ages (even on satellite images it stands out as a red rectangle).

Mountains are lifted up modern height the latest movements along the faults. Young tectonic ascending movements have created a high-altitude relief. Within mountainous countries, systems of leveling surfaces and steep slopes, dissected by faults and erosion, are combined. The heights of the mountains and passes in the Hindu Kush increase from west to east from 5000 m in the western ranges to 6000-7000 m in the east. The passes in the western Hindu Kush lie at an altitude of 3000 meters (the Trans-Hindukush highway crosses the mountains along the Shibar pass - 2987 meters), in the eastern - even higher. Karakoram has an average height of almost 6000 m, three peaks of this system exceed 8000 meters (Chogori - 8611 m - the second highest in the world), and passes with heights of about 5000 meters are difficult to access throughout the year. The ridge is processed by glaciers and erosion and has a typical alpine relief.

In the Pamirs, blocky and folded-blocky morphostructures predominate: highlands - on the Cenozoic basement in the west, on the Paleozoic basement in the center and east, middle mountains - on the Mesozoic and Paleozoic structures in the west and northwest.

In general, the highly dissected relief of the Western Pamirs is similar to the Hindu Kush, here in the ridge of the Academy of Sciences is the highest point of the system - the city of Samani (7495 meters). The relief of the Eastern Pamirs is rather flat-mountainous: at altitudes of 4000-6000 meters the relative excesses are small, the valleys are wide and filled with loose deposits, and only individual ridges on the ridges have a high-altitude appearance.

Until now, the region is characterized by a high degree of seismicity. For example, in the Pamirs, earthquakes of 4-5 points are recorded daily at different points, there are often strong tremors (more than 7 points).

Modern glaciation plays an important role in shaping the nature of the region. The snow line lies at altitudes of 4000-5000 meters.

It rises highest (up to 6200-6400 meters) in the extreme northeast of the Karakorum, since there is little precipitation here due to the distance from their main sources - the western transfer of moisture from the Atlantic and mediterranean sea and the Indian monsoon. The exposure of the slopes is very important: on the western and southern slopes there is more precipitation and the snow line is lower, on the northern and especially eastern slopes the amount of precipitation is much less, and the snow line rises to a considerable height. Only in the western Hindu Kush do the northern slopes receive slightly more moisture than the southern ones, so the glaciers there descend lower.

A significant role is played by local orographic conditions - the ratio of shady and sunny slopes, the presence of areas for the accumulation of snow and ice, etc. The total glaciation area in the Karakoram is about 15,400 km 2 (according to measurements on images from space), 5 glaciers exceed 50 in length km. Glaciers, predominantly of the dendritic and valley type, stretch almost in a continuous strip along the mountain ridges, leaving only some passes free.

The area of ​​the Hindu Kush glaciers is estimated at approximately 6000 km 2 (according to aerial photography). Basin and valley glaciers predominate, some of them reach a length of 15-30 km. Avalanches play an important role in feeding the glaciers of both mountainous countries. In the Pamirs, glaciers occupy about 8400 km2. The largest glacier - Fedchenko in the ridge of the Academy of Sciences has a length of 77 km. This is one of the longest mountain glaciers on Earth. The Pamir glaciers are characterized by rapid periodic shifts of several meters in a short time.

Many rivers of the Indus basin and endorheic regions of Central and Central Asia originate from the slopes of the mountains. Their importance is very great for irrigation of agricultural land in the foothills and intermountain valleys. Rivers have huge reserves of hydropower. The Vakhsh hydroelectric complex is known with a cascade of hydroelectric power stations and a system of reservoirs, the waters of which irrigate the lands of the Vakhsh valley. Lakes are either dammed (for example, Sarez in the Pamirs), or saline, drainless in tectonic depressions (the largest is Karakul).

The mountains are distinguished by a high degree of continental climate. The exposure of slopes plays a huge role in the distribution of precipitation. In general, the western and northwestern slopes receive many times more moisture than the eastern ones. The climate of the highlands is especially severe.

In the Eastern Pamirs, the average monthly temperatures in July reach only 5°C with daily amplitudes up to tens of degrees. In winter, frosty weather prevails here (-25 ... -30 ° С). Registered -63°С. From a depth of 1.5 m permafrost is observed. The southern slopes of the mountains are better moistened only within the Karakorum, where the Indian monsoon reaches.

Most of the mountains are deserted, on their rocky slopes there are rare bushes of wormwood, teresken, and some cereals. There are forests only on the southern slopes of the Karakoram up to a height of 3500 m (sparse growth of oaks, pines, Himalayan cedars), higher - shrub thickets and rich subalpine meadows, as well as in the north-west of the Hindu Kush (areas of pistachio and juniper sparse forests among dry steppes and woody thickets along the rivers). There are tree and shrub formations along the river valleys of the Pamirs. Formations of upland xerophytes and mountain steppes are also common.

The fauna is well preserved in the mountains. Both in flora and in fauna there are many species characteristic of all mountainous Asia, including the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. Mountain goats, argali, snow leopards, Himalayan bears live in the Hindu Kush and the Pamirs, orongo and adda antelopes, wild yaks, etc. live in the Karakorum.

The bowels of the region are rich in minerals. There are known deposits of coal, various ores, including iron, molybdenum, beryllium, polymetallic ores, gold, graphite, sulfur, precious stones, etc. So far, these resources have been used relatively little.

The population is concentrated in river valleys, along the shores of lakes, in oases at the foot of the mountains. Cattle breeding and irrigated agriculture predominate. The Pamirs are known as a region of mountain agriculture: here, at an altitude of 3-3.5 thousand meters, they grow cereals, high-yielding potatoes, some garden crops and winter-hardy fruits.

The main part of the Hindu Kush is located in Afghanistan. There were hostilities, which negatively affected the state of nature and the economy of the region. Karakorum lies on the border of India and China. The mountains of the southeastern part of the system are most populated. Most of the Pamirs belong to Tajikistan, only in the north and northwest the territories of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan enter the mountain system. Unfortunately, the southern border of Tajikistan has been a “hot spot” for a long time. In addition to natural disasters from which the population of the region suffers (earthquakes, mudflows, landslides and screes in the mountains), damage from military conflicts is added.

Kunlun - Altyntag - Nanshan

The mountains of these systems close the Tibetan Plateau from the north and have much in common with it. However, there are also significant differences. Most of all, they relate to the geological structure and topography of this territory. Kunlun in the west adjoins the Pamir mountain junction and stretches 2700 km to the east, first along the Karakorum, then along the northern outskirts of the Tibetan highlands, bordering the Tarim and Tsaidam basins from the south. The northern outskirts of the Tsaidam basin are the Altyntag and Nanshan ranges. At 85° E. e. they connect with Kunlun. The region is entirely within the territory of the People's Republic of China.

Kunlun is one of the greatest mountain systems of the Earth. Active tectonic movements raised the Paleozoic folded structures to a height of 6000-6500 m, and some peaks exceed 7500 m.

The ridges are highest in the west, where the crystalline axial zone is traced, and in the central segment - in the Przhevalsky (Arkatage) ridge. The highest peaks of the system are located within the Western Kunlun, which consists of three parallel chains, and the Przhevalsky Range in the Eastern Kunlun. The highest points are Ulugmuztag (7723 m) and Kongur (7719 m). The Eastern Kunlun goes around the Qaidam Basin from the south, and Altyntag and Nanshan, which are a branch of the Eastern Kunlun, from the north. These ridges are somewhat lower - 5000-6000 m. The mountain system has poorly dissected watersheds with extensive areas of peneplain, separated by high graben-like intermountain valleys. There are many screes in the mountains, often mobile. To the Tarim Basin, the ridges break off with a giant ledge (up to 4500 m), and rise above the Tibetan Plateau by only 1000-1500 m. The Tsaidam Basin (tectonic depression filled with Meso-Cenozoic sediments) lies at an altitude of 2700-3000 meters. Sandy and clayey surface deposits are processed by eolian processes. Large areas are occupied by solonchaks in place of dried lakes. Tsaidam is called "a stepping stone to Tibet", the landscapes of the basin are very similar to those of Tibet. Altyntag and Nanshan are high mountain systems (some peaks are higher than 6 km).

The climate of the entire region is arid sharply continental, typical for the whole of Central Asia. Especially little precipitation (no more than 150 mm, and in some places less than 50 mm per year) is received by the Middle Kunlun and the Tsaidam Basin. Summer precipitation. Winters are snowless.

The amount of precipitation increases slightly to the west, as the influence of the western transfer of air masses affects, and to the east, where it falls up to 500 mm per year (80% in summer due to the action of the summer monsoon). Annual temperature amplitudes reach 30-40°C. January averages are everywhere negative, and although the region lies between 35° and 40° N. sh., its climate cannot be called subtropical. There are special high-mountain climatic conditions.

Due to the aridity, the glaciation of these highest mountains is relatively small. However, there are several glaciation sites with large glaciers, mostly of the Turkestan type.

The crest of the Przhevalsky Ridge is almost 1000 meters vertically covered with eternal snow. There are large glacial formations on all the highest mountain ranges. The snow line lies in the east and west at altitudes of 5000-5200 meters, in some places (for example, in the east of Nanshan) and lower, and in the center it rises to 5400-5900 m. Glaciers and snows give rise to rivers flowing mainly into the Tarim Basin and (in the east) into the river system. Huanghe. A few short streams flow towards the Tibetan Plateau. There are a number of rivers that originate on the slopes of the Karakorum and cut through the Western Kunlun in several places. 60-80% of the runoff occurs in the summer, when snow and ice melt in the mountains; in winter, many rivers dry up or freeze.

The lack of heat and moisture leads to the fact that formations of deserts and dry steppes dominate in the region. In the central regions, they occupy all the slopes and hollows. Only along watercourses and in places with a close occurrence of groundwater there are meadows and wetlands. In the west and east, at altitudes of 3500-4000 m, forest vegetation (Tian Shan spruce, tree-like juniper) and meadows appear.

The population is only along the banks of large rivers. The main occupations are nomadic cattle breeding (sheep, goats, yaks are bred) and agriculture (wheat is grown and barley is grown higher in the mountains).

The political-geographical sub-region of Central Asia unites 5 former Soviet republics located in the depths of the Eurasian continent, which have been independent states since 1991 - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. A common feature of the economic and geographical position of these countries is that none of them has access to the World Ocean, that is, they are all inland countries. Kazakhstan is the largest in terms of area among 44 countries of the world with a similar geographical position. originality geographical location located in the middle part of the sub-region of the Republic of Uzbekistan is that in the absence of its own access to the ocean, none of the neighboring countries is also washed by the World Ocean. Such a geographical feature among the countries of the world, except for our republic, is inherent only in the small principality of Liechtenstein in Western Europe.

The presence of access to the Caspian Sea has a positive impact on the economic and geographical position, transport, geographical and natural resource opportunities of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The economic and geographical position of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, located within the highlands of the Tien Shan and Pamir, with their difficult transport and geographical conditions, is considered relatively unfavorable.

The positive side of the economic and geographical position of the subregion of Central Asia as a whole is expressed primarily in its transit, that is, the ability to link transport systems various parts Europe and Asia. This feature was manifested in the past when the famous Great Silk Road passed through the territory of the modern Central Asian states. At present, the high assessment of the corresponding economic and geographical opportunities of the subregion is also justified. The geopolitical position of Central Asia is specific: it is located in the zone of intersection of the external interests of the main geopolitical centers of power in Eurasia - such "geopolitical players" as the direct neighbors of the countries of the subregion - China, Russia, Iran, as well as the United States, the European Union, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India , Pakistan Also, the negative aspects of the geopolitical position of Central Asia are associated with the direct proximity to Afghanistan, where internal military confrontations do not stop, and proximity to other real and potential conflict regions of Eurasia.

The total area of ​​the countries of Central Asia is 4 million km2, and the population, as of January 1, 2017, is 70.5 million people. The countries of the subregion vary considerably in size and population. Differences in territory and demographic potential are significantly affected by the peculiarities of natural conditions and resources of each of the countries of the subregion. The countries of Central Asia are located near the Alpine-Himalayan fold belt, which runs along the border of the Eurasian and Indo-Australian lithospheric plates. Therefore, the southeastern and central parts of the subregion are seismically dangerous. Strong earthquakes are especially characteristic of the territory of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The western and northern parts of the subregion have a platform structure.

According to the features of the relief, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, located in the southeast of Central Asia, are considered mountainous states, while Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are predominantly flat. However, the last three countries are also partially crossed by mountain systems, which occupy from 10 to 20% of their territory.

The countries of Central Asia have a huge mineral and raw material potential. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan stand out in terms of oil reserves, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in terms of gas reserves, Kazakhstan is rich in coal, and Uzbekistan is rich in brown coal. Oil and gas resources are concentrated in the Caspian lowland, in the deserts of the Karakum and Kyzylkum, on the Ustyurt plateau and in intermountain depressions, the largest reserves of coal are located in the Karaganda and Ekibastuz basins within the Kazakh hills. Kazakhstan is rich in ores of ferrous metals - iron, manganese and chromium. Large deposits of non-ferrous, including precious and rare metals, are found in all countries of the region, except for Turkmenistan. Thus, Uzbekistan stands out for its reserves of gold, uranium, cadmium, copper, molybdenum, Kazakhstan - for uranium, tungsten, molybdenum, lead, zinc, Kyrgyzstan - for gold, mercury, antimony, Tajikistan - for reserves of silver and uranium. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have large reserves of mineral salts.

The general properties of the climate of the countries of Central Asia are expressed in a combination of temperate and subtropical elements, sharp continentality and aridity. Therefore, in the countries of Central Asia, the most common natural zones are deserts, semi-deserts and steppes.

The factor that has a decisive impact on the development of agriculture in the conditions of Central Asia - water resources - is characterized by an extremely uneven distribution over the territory. All major rivers of the subregion - Amudarya, Syrdarya, Zarafshan, Ili, Irtysh and others - are transboundary (flow through the territory of two or more countries), start from the highlands of the Tien Shan, Dzungarian Alatau and Pamir, that is, from the territories of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are rich in water and hydropower resources, while Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan lack them.

The population of the Central Asian countries is distributed unevenly due to the factors of water and land resources (hydrographic network and relief) and is concentrated mostly in the valleys and deltas of rivers, intermountain basins, where irrigated agriculture is developed. Since there are the most such lands in Uzbekistan, it is our country that is the leader in the subregion in terms of population. In terms of population density in the region, as of January 1, 2017, Uzbekistan (71.5 people/km2) and Tajikistan (61.3 people/km2) are leaders, while Kazakhstan (6.6 people/km2) ranks last place. On a global scale, Kazakhstan is one of the most sparsely populated states (184th place among the countries of the world in terms of average population density).

The demographic situation in the countries of Central Asia is characterized by a rather high level fertility and natural population growth. These rates are highest in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, very low in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and average for the subregion in Uzbekistan. In all five republics, the balance of migration is negative. The level of urbanization in Kazakhstan is 53%, in Uzbekistan 51%, in Turkmenistan 50%, in Kyrgyzstan 36%, and in Tajikistan 26%. There are 2 millionaire cities in Central Asia: Tashkent (2.4 million people) and Almaty (1.7 million people). Astana, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Ashgabat, Shymkent, Namangan, Samarkand are among the largest cities (the population is over 500 thousand people).

Of the local peoples, the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turkmens, Karakalpaks belong to the Turkic group of the Altai family, and the Tajiks and related Pamir peoples (Shugnans, Vakhans, Ishkashims, etc.) belong to the Iranian group of the Indo-European family. Representatives of these nationalities live both in the respective republics and in neighboring states. For example, Uzbeks are the second largest nationality in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, neighboring Uzbekistan, and the third largest in Kazakhstan. In turn, the number of Tajiks, Kazakhs, Kirghiz and Turkmens is large in Uzbekistan.

The countries of Central Asia, according to the UN classification, belong to the category of countries with economies in transition. The total GDP of these countries in 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amounted to 800 billion US dollars. Among the five countries of the subregion, the first place in terms of GDP is occupied by Kazakhstan, the second by Uzbekistan, the third by Turkmenistan, the fourth by Tajikistan and the fifth by Kyrgyzstan. The share of Kazakhstan in the total GDP of the countries of the subregion is 56.4%, Uzbekistan 25.8%, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, respectively, 11.8; 3.3 and 2.7%.

The common features of the socio-economic development of the countries of the subregion, due to their existence and development until recently in a single political and economic space, are expressed in the reliance mainly on mineral raw materials and land and water resources, the focus on industrialization, the creation of new industrial facilities, industries and centers, similarities specialization of agriculture, the general focus of foreign economic relations on such states as China, Russia, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the EU countries. At the same time, the economy of each of the countries of Central Asia has its own specific features. Due to the fact that in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan the economic importance of industry is slightly higher than agriculture, these three countries belong to the category of industrial-agrarian states. The economy of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, in turn, has an agro-industrial structure.

The fuel and energy complex is most developed in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In terms of oil reserves, the volume of its production and exports, Kazakhstan is the leader in the subregion, producing more than 100 million tons of oil per year, most of which is exported. The basis of the economy and national wealth of Turkmenistan is the gas industry. This country ranks 4th in the world in terms of gas reserves, 2nd in the CIS and 1st in Central Asia. The second largest gas field in the world, Galkynysh, is also located in Turkmenistan. In Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, electricity is mainly generated at thermal power plants. In Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which do not have large reserves of fuel resources, more than 90% of electricity is generated by hydroelectric power plants.

Ferrous metallurgy among the countries of the subregion is most developed in Kazakhstan. The largest enterprises of this industry in Kazakhstan are located in Karaganda (Temirtau) and Kostanai (Rudny) regions near iron ore deposits. In the Aktobe region there are large (on the scale of the CIS) deposits of chromium, in the Karaganda region - manganese. Non-ferrous metallurgy occupies an important place in the economy and foreign trade of all Central Asian countries, with the exception of Turkmenistan. So, for Tajikistan, an important source of foreign exchange earnings to the treasury, a strategic economic facility is an aluminum plant in the city of Tursunzade, and for Kyrgyzstan, the Kumtar gold deposit in the Issyk-Kul region. Uzbekistan is distinguished by the production of gold, uranium, copper, cadmium, Kazakhstan - uranium, lead, zinc, tungsten, molybdenum, copper, Kyrgyzstan - gold, mercury, antimony, Tajikistan - aluminum. The chemical industry is most developed in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and specializes mainly in the production of mineral fertilizers, sulfuric acid, soda, mirabilite, oil and gas processing. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are leading in the development of mechanical engineering. In this regard, the dynamic development of the automotive industry in our republic deserves special attention.

Agriculture in all countries of the region is of great economic importance. In Kazakhstan, the main commercial sectors of agriculture are grain growing and animal husbandry. Kazakhstan is one of the 10 largest grain exporters in the world. In Uzbekistan, cotton growing, sericulture, horticulture, viticulture, and astrakhan breeding are of commercial importance. In Turkmenistan, the agricultural sector is specialized in cotton growing, grain growing, melon growing, astrakhan breeding and horse breeding. Breeding horses of the Akhal-Teke breed is of great importance in the animal husbandry of Turkmenistan. In Tajikistan, agriculture is specialized in cotton growing, horticulture and sericulture, and in Kyrgyzstan - in vegetable growing, tobacco growing and diversified animal husbandry. Prospects for the socio-economic development of the countries of Central Asia are largely related to the processes of their economic integration. The following significant factors of economic integration of the Central Asian states can be distinguished:

The need for a joint fight against earthquakes, mudflows and floods, snow avalanches and other natural disasters.

Central Asia, inland countries, transit economic and geographical position, geopolitical position, transboundary rivers, countries with economies in transition, industrial-agrarian economy, agrarian-industrial economy, economic integration.

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Introduction

Central Asia, despite its relatively small area, is a significant part of modern world. At present, the states of Central Asia, with greater or lesser success, participate in several multi-vector integration formations. It is also worth noting the cultural and natural features that the region is rich in. Objective:
- get acquainted with the political, economic, natural and social features of Central Asia;

Identify a number of problems in the region (demographic, economic) and identify ways to solve them.

Basic information about the Central Asia region

Central Asia today includes five republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, countries in central Asian region in a natural way, a reassessment of its own role as subjects of geopolitical and international relations which, among other things, affected their regional self-identification. There was a rejection of the self-designation of the region “Central Asia and Kazakhstan” fixed in the Soviet period in favor of the definition “Central Asia”. After 20 years, the definition of "Central Asia" has become commonly used, denoting the geopolitical space, which includes the five states of the former USSR - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. (For the first time, the proposal to rename the region was voiced by Nursultan Nazarbayev, who was supported by the leaders of other Central Asian countries). The total population of the region is 65 million people. The region of Central Asia belongs geopolitically to the Eurasian civilization, in confessional terms the Islamic component prevails, in ethnic terms the Turkic component prevails, in historical terms - Soviet identity, and in education Western roots still prevail.

Region Composition

The borders of Central Asia are defined in different ways (as defined by UNESCO, for example, the region includes Mongolia, Western China, Punjab, northern India and northern Pakistan, northeastern Iran, Afghanistan, areas of Asian Russia south of the taiga zone and five former Soviet republics of Central Asia) , however, the region is now considered to consist of the following countries: Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The area of ​​the region is 3,994,300 sq. km. Countries have many features of cultural and historical community. However, each country has its own specifics.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a state located in the center of Eurasia. The border of Kazakhstan passes through the waters of the Caspian Sea, then along the Volga steppes, rises north to the southern spurs of the Ural Mountains, then east along West Siberian Plain to Altai. In the east, the border runs along the Tarbagatay and Dzungaria ridges, in the south - along the Tan Shan mountains and the Turan lowland to the Caspian Sea. The territory of Kazakhstan is 2 million 724.9 thousand km² (ninth largest in the world). The capital of Kazakhstan is Astana.

The relief of Kazakhstan is represented by all high-altitude steps - from low plains to high mountains. The lowlands are located in the north, where they form the southern part of the West Siberian Plain, in the northwest (Caspian) and in the south (Turan Plain). They account for about ⅓ of the territory of the republic. More than half of its area is occupied by plateaus - Poduralskoe, Turgai, Ustyurt, Betpak-Dala - and uplands - General Syrt, Kokchetavskaya with heights of 300-400 m, as well as the vast Kazakh hills with heights up to 400-600 m. The surface rises from the north and west to the east and southeast, where the plains give way to mountains. The mountain ranges of Altai, Dzhungarskiy Alatau, Tan-Shan rise up to 4000-5000 m and more. The highest point of Kazakhstan is located on the border with Kyrgyzstan - this is the Khan-Tengri peak (6995 m) in the mountains of the Central Tien Shan. Mountain systems are separated by intermontane depressions; the largest of them are Ili, Alakol, Zaisan. [??]
The bowels of Kazakhstan are rich in minerals. They are associated not only with the folded basement complex, but also with the loose sedimentary cover. Several structural-geological provinces are isolated with a specific set of minerals.

Large deposits of copper (Dzhezkazgan, Kounrad and other deposits), lead, zinc, rare metals, coal (Karaganda coal basin), iron and manganese ore are concentrated in Central Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan Altai is known for copper-lead-zinc ores, deposits of gold, tin, and rare metals. The main polymetallic deposits are Leninogorskoye, Zyryanovskoye, Belousovskoye. The Turgai trough is an area of ​​large reserves of iron ore. The Kacharskoye, Sokolovskoye, Sarbayskoye, Korzhunkulskoye deposits of magnetite ores are especially rich. The Ural regions of Kazakhstan are characterized by chromite, copper and asbestos mineralization. Cis-Urals near Aktobe is famous for its phosphorites and high-quality nickel ores. Lead-zinc ores are mined in the Mirgalimsai, Baizhansai and Achisai deposits. The Caspian depression and the Mangyshlak Peninsula are an oil and gas province. Emba oil has long been famous for its high quality. Huge reserves of table and potash salts are also associated with the Caspian depression. They are confined to salt dome structures that cut through the loose sedimentary cover.

The climate of Kazakhstan is continental, arid. The inland position causes the predominance of the anticyclonic type of atmospheric circulation and a very weak cyclonic activity. The predominance of clear weather increases the duration of sunshine (from 2000 to 3000 hours per year). Winter, except for the southernmost regions, is severe, usually with little snow, with strong snowstorms and snowstorms. The average January temperature is -19º, in the extreme south up to -3 - 5º. In summer, the weather is also not very mild. Average temperatures in July in the north are 19-20º, in the south 28-30º.

About six thousand species of plants grow in Kazakhstan, about 500 species of birds, 178 species of animals, 49 species of reptiles, 12 species of amphibians, and about 100 species of fish in rivers and lakes can be found in its open spaces.

Forests occupy about 5.5% of the area of ​​Kazakhstan and are located in the northern forest-steppe, eastern and southern mountainous parts of the country. Most of the forests in the country are located in the northern Tien Shan and Altai mountains. There are juniper forests and alpine meadows, apple trees and walnut trees grow in the gorges. Among the mammals living in the northern Tien Shan, the snow leopard, brown bear, and Siberian mountain goat stand out. Taiga forests are found on the territory of Altai, where a natural reserve was created on the Kazakh territory on Lake Markakol. Here, in the taiga forests live such rare species birds like capercaillie, hazel grouse, ptarmigan.

The steppes of Kazakhstan are an exciting and exciting sight. Here you can meet several hundred species of birds that live in the area of ​​numerous fresh and salt lakes. One of the rarest and most beautiful bird species in the world, pink flamingos, lives on Lake Tengiz in Central Kazakhstan. For their protection, the government of Kazakhstan created the Kurgaldzhinsky Reserve.

Among the deserts of Kazakhstan, one can single out the Betpak-Dala desert, the desert of the Ustyurt plateau, the sandy Kyzylkum desert, the Moyunkum desert, as well as the Aral Karakum desert. Goitered gazelles and jerboas live here, as well as the storm of all deserts - the viper. In addition to it, 16 more species of snakes were identified on the territory of Kazakhstan. Of course, we should not forget about the largest lizard that lives only in the sands of Kyzylkum - the gray monitor lizard.

Aquatic vegetation in terms of species is the poorest (63 species) in the flora of the republic, but the most ancient. Rare and endangered plants of Kazakhstan are subject to special protection, there are about 600 species of them, a significant part of them is included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.

The population of Kazakhstan has been multinational since ancient times, its number is 17,670,957 people as of January 1, 2016 [Wikipedia].

Uzbekistan

The Republic of Uzbekistan is a state located in the central part of Central Asia, which borders on Kyrgyzstan in the east, Kazakhstan in the north, Turkmenistan in the southwest, Afghanistan in the south and Tajikistan in the southeast. Uzbekistan covers an area of ​​447,400 sq. km. The capital of Uzbekistan is Tashkent.

The territory of present-day Uzbekistan arose as a result of the Paleozoic (about 300 million years ago) orogeny. It was then that the Turan plate and land were formed, which later became the mountains of the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alay. The territory of Uzbekistan has mostly flat relief. Only where the Paleozoic basement protrudes above late deposits (for example, in Kyzylkum), island mountains (Sultanuizdag, Tamdytau, Kuldzhuktau, Bukantau, etc.) rose to a height of almost 900 m. Only the folded regions of the Tien Shan turned out to be truly high. and Pamir-Alai.
Every major natural area The Republic is distinguished by its combination of landforms. The Ustyurt Plateau (height up to 300 m) has a slightly undulating relief and steep (height 150 m) cliffs (chinks) to the coast of the Amu Darya and the Aral Sea. The alluvial-deltaic plain in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya is characterized by a flat relief, which is diversified only by low (from 60 to 80 m) laggards. In Kyzylkum, along with the mentioned remnant mountains, there are various forms of accumulation - ridges, mounds, dunes, oriented in accordance with the direction of the prevailing winds. In the east, mid-mountain and high-mountain relief forms predominate: the slopes or ends of the Western Tien Shan ranges (Ugasky, Pskemsky, Chatkalsky, Kuraminsky ranges) and Pamir-Alay (Zerafshansky, Gissarsky, Kugitang, Baysuntau ranges) are within the republic. The mid-mountain (up to 2169 m) Nuratinsky ridge is somewhat isolated. The mountains are characterized by great contrasts in heights and a strip of hilly foothills - adyrs, steep ridges with narrow, picturesque gorges and often sharp watersheds. But there are also low mountains (Aktau, Karakchitau, Gobduntau, the western end of the Zeravshan Range) with smooth outlines of ridges.
Minerals are also associated with the geological structure and relief. On the plains with their sedimentary rocks, there are deposits of oil and gas (Gazlinskoye, Shakhpatinskoye, etc.), self-planted salt (Barsakelmes), building materials. Deposits of coal (Angrenskoye, Shargunskoye, Baysunskoye, etc.), noble, nonferrous and rare metals, fluorite, building materials are associated with more ancient rocks of the mountains.

Uzbekistan has a hot, continental, arid climate. Winter temperatures change from north to south: the average for January is from -10º to +2-3º, the absolute minimum is from -25º to -38º. But in summer, on the territory of the plains of Uzbekistan, the average temperature remains at the level of 30º, with absolute maximums above 42º. In the mountains (above 3000 m), the average summer temperatures drop to 22-30º.

The territory of Uzbekistan is diverse, but large areas of this country are partly unsuitable for life: these are deserts, steppes and mountains. The cities of Uzbekistan, around which the life of the people of this country is concentrated, are located in the river valleys.

Flora of Uzbekistan includes over 3700 species of plants. 20% of the species are endemic, most of which grow in the mountains. The flora of the steppes and deserts consists of peculiar shrubs. Woody, shrubby, herbaceous vegetation is developed on the low plains. The tugai are characterized by thickets of reeds and kendyrs. In the landscape of the piedmont plains - grass, no trees, shrubs are found along watercourses. Various types of onions, tulips, rhubarb, irises grow here. The high foothills are a dry, herbaceous steppe on dark gray soils. Shrubs grow on rocky areas - almonds, curly, visharnik. In the low mountains, the most valuable tree species, the Zarafshan juniper, mainly grows. Hardwoods are also common - maple, hawthorn, various forms of wild apple, pistachios, Walnut, birch, willow, poplar, Magalebka cherry. The lowlands are very rich in shrubs: honeysuckle, barberry, wild rose, meadowsweet, thickets of wild vineyards. The set of herbs is very diverse: clary sage, ziziphora, rhubarb, sorrel, tulip, Pskem onion (the most valuable medicinal plant). Rose hips and other shrubs grow in the middle mountains. In the highlands, only 30% of the soil is covered with vegetation. Mostly fescue grows here.

As well as flora and fauna of Uzbekistan is diverse. Many representatives of the Asian fauna are found here. Among them: mammals (wolf, eared hedgehog, fox, corsac, toloi hare, turtle, goitered gazelle, saiga antelope, wild boar, markhor goat, mountain sheep, badger, stone marten, bear, leopard, ermine, Siberian mountain goat, plate-toothed rat, jackal, Bukhara deer, Bukhara horseshoe bat, pointed-eared night bat gopher, jerboa), reptiles (geckos, agama, sand boa, arrow-snake, Central Asian cobra, muzzle, four-stripe snake, Alai bald eye), birds (beautiful bustard, Avdotka, sandgrouse, saja, dunce nightjar, steppe buzzard, jay, shrike, warbler, finches, bunting, lentil, large turtledove, black vulture, griffon vulture, lamb vulture, Himalayan snowcock, bearded vulture, hawker, jackdaw, pheasant, cuckoo, yellow wagtail, magpie, black crow, southern nightingale, whiskered tit, reed bunting, thrush warbler), insects, etc.

There are about 70 species of fish in the reservoirs: Aral salmon, Amu Darya trout, pike, Aral roach, Aral barbel, carp, silver carp, catfish, pike perch, snakehead, silver carp, grass carp.

The population of Uzbekistan was 31,025,500 people (at the time of 2015).

Tajikistan

Tajikistan is located in the southeastern part of Central Asia. The territory of the republic stretches for 700 km from west to east and for 350 km from north to south. The area of ​​Tajikistan is 142,000 km². The Republic has complex outlines of borders, reflecting the historical and geographical features of the settlement of the Tajik people. In the west and north, Tajikistan borders on Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and in the south and east - on China and Afghanistan. The capital of Tajikistan is Dushanbe.

Tajikistan is located within the borders of the Pamir-Alay mountain system and adjacent areas of the Ferghana Basin. In the north-east of the republic, the peak of Ismoil Somoni and the peak of Communism rise. One of the most powerful continental glaciers in the world, the Fedchenko mountain-valley glacier, is also located here. Mountains occupy 90% of the territory of Tajikistan; the nature of the high-mountainous republic is peculiar, full of contrasts. The complexity of the relief, the variety of heights, and the pronounced vertical zonality determine the great differences in landscapes in individual regions. On the plains, which occupy only 7% of the territory of the republic, most of its population, almost all cities and the main branches of the national economy are concentrated.

Natural resources Tajikistan are very diverse. Many deposits of polychemical, rare and noble metals have been discovered on the territory of the republic: zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, copper, gold, silver, antimony, mercury, fluorspar, tin, uranium, bismuth, iron, manganese, table salt, magnesium and others having an export value. There are deposits of coal, gas, oil, marble, building materials. 80% of coal is coking.

The climate in Tajikistan is subtropical with significant daily and seasonal fluctuations in air temperature, low rainfall, dry air and low cloudiness. The contrast of climatic conditions is associated with a three-dimensional placement of indicators: in terms of thermal conditions, climates change from bottom to top - from subtropical (hot summer, warm, humid vegetative winter in the valleys) to moderate (hot summer and cold winter in the mountains) and cold (warm summer, very cold winter in the highlands). Solar heating also changes from north to south.

The flora and fauna of Tajikistan is diverse. There are more than 4.5 thousand plant species in Tajikistan. Such floristic richness in a relatively small area is the result of intensive speciation with the preservation of many relics (species preserved from ancient eras). At least a quarter of the species are endemic. The flora of Tajikistan is genetically related to the flora of the Mediterranean, the Himalayas, Tibet, and the northern regions of Eurasia. On the territory of Tajikistan there are some of the ancient centers of the formation of cultivated plants: non-ligul wheat and various forms of barley, different varieties of peas, chiny, chickpeas, beans. There are also many original varieties of fruit - apricots, almonds, grapes. In all high-altitude zones there are medicinal, food, fodder, oil-containing, fibrous, tanning, dyeing and other plants. The fauna of Tajikistan is also diverse: 84 species of mammals, 346 species of birds, 44 species of reptiles, several species of fish and more than 10 thousand species of insects and other arthropods. In deserts and ephemeral herbage there are goitered gazelle, wolf, hyena, fox, ground squirrel, porcupine, hare, bustard, lizards - monitor lizard and yellow-bellied tortoise, snakes - efa, cobra, muzzle.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is located in the northeastern part of Central Asia. In the south-west it is adjacent to Tajikistan, in the west - with Uzbekistan, in the north - with Kazakhstan. In the east and in the south there is a border with China. The area of ​​Kyrgyzstan is 199,951 km², the capital is Bishkek.

The main mountain ranges of Kyrgyzstan belong to the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai systems. They stretch in huge arcs, mainly in the latitudinal direction, gathering in the east into the mighty Khan-Tengri mountain junction. The combination of destruction and demolition processes leads to a wide variety of landforms, characterized by a tiered structure and, at the same time, massive manifestations of asymmetry.

In the Northern Tien Shan, metamorphic and igneous sedimentary strata are widely developed, which are accompanied by deposits of non-ferrous metals. Gneisses, crystalline schists, amphibolites and marbles of the Inner Tien Shan are associated with deposits of gold, molybdenum, vanadium, iron ore, carbonate rocks Pamir-Alai - deposits of mercury, antimony, tin and others. Hot minerals (coal, oil, gas) occur in intermountain depressions. The richest are the Jurassic coal deposits of the Northern and Inner Tien Shan and Pamir-Alay. Oil and gas fields are located in the Ferghana Basin in the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene deposits. Kyrgyzstan is rich in mineral non-metallic resources, underground waters and therapeutic mud. All this is widely used in the national economy of the republic.

The climate in Kyrgyzstan is mostly dry, sharply continental, formed under the influence of such factors as the comparative southern position, remoteness from the oceans, great contrasts in altitude, the proximity of the Pamir mountains, the plains of Siberia, Kazakhstan and Dzungaria. This is the reason for hot summers and rather cold winters, large contrasts of seasonal and daily temperature norms. The duration of sunshine is great in Kyrgyzstan.

The diversity of the flora of Kyrgyzstan is determined by the location of the country in the altitudinal zone. On slopes with different humidity, various types of vegetation grow. Steppes, meadow steppes, meadows, thickets of shrubs are common on the northern slopes. While due to the dry climate, the southern slopes are covered mainly with semi-deserts and deserts. The flora of Kyrgyzstan is represented by 3676 lower plants and 3786 higher plants. On the territory of the republic, there are about 600 species of useful wild-growing species of herbs, of which 200 are officially recognized as medicinal: cornflower, Karakol aconite, drevyasil, Turkestan motherwort, St. John's wort, coltsfoot, oregano, sea buckthorn, etc. Among the wild plants of economic importance, one can note: salt marsh, barberry, rhubarb, Ferghana spurge, various types of thyme, etc. In the south of Kyrgyzstan there are unique natural formations - walnut forests. The valuable genetic material of these forests is represented by walnut trees, Siver apple trees, Sogdian cherry plums, pear trees, Korzhinskaya pear, Tien-

Shan cherry, barberry bushes, almond and pistachio trees, Dzungarian and Turkestan hawthorn and many other species.

101 species of protozoan unicellular animal organisms, 10242 species of insects and arthropods represent the fauna of Kyrgyzstan. In addition, the country is home to more than 1.5 thousand invertebrates, 75 fish species, 4 amphibian species, 33 reptile species, 368 bird species and 83 mammal species. At an altitude of 3400-3800 meters, gray marmots, silver and narrow-skulled voles are common inhabitants. In the summer, a brown bear is found in alpine meadows. In addition to him, the inhabitants of the alpine meadows are sheep, marmots, hares, mountain goats and wolves. Mammals do not live at altitudes of 3800-4000 meters, however, gray marmots and narrow-skulled voles are frequent guests. Above the snow line, on the ledges of rocks (height 4.4 kilometers), the red-breasted redstart and the alpine mountain chaffinch nest. At this altitude, you can also meet mountain goose, rock dove, partridge, alpine jackdaw and large bullfinch. And at an altitude of 4500 meters, snow goats and predatory leopards live. Many endangered species of animals living on the territory of Kyrgyzstan were listed in the Red Book: wild sheep, snow goat, roe deer, red deer, bear, deer, fallow deer, lynx and snow leopard.

The population of Kyrgyzstan is about 6 million people.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a Central Asian country that borders Afghanistan and Iran in the south, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the north. In the west, the republic is washed by the Caspian Sea. The territory of the republic is 491,200 sq. km. The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashgabat.

Turkmenistan is often called the country of deserts and oases. This definition reflects the main landscape of the republic: deserts occupy more than 80% of its territory. This includes the Karakum desert (“black sands”, which is equivalent to the concept of “overgrown sands”), as well as part of the deserts of the Ustyurt plateau, the Krasnovodsk and Mangyshlak plateaus and the coastal strip along the Caspian coast. Plateaus drop steeply to the plains, and these steep ledges are called “chinks”. The population lives mainly on the periphery of the republic, in oases. By the nature of the relief, the territory of Turkmenistan is divided into two unequal parts - flat and mountainous. The plains account for more than 80% of the territory of the republic. In the mountainous part, the Kopetdag ridge (the highest point is 2942 m), belonging to the system of the Turkmen-Khoran mountains, as well as the western spurs of the Pamir-Alay, entering the territory of Turkmenistan by the Kugitang ridge (up to 3137 m), stand out.

Minerals of sedimentary origin predominate in Turkmenistan - oil, gas, sulfur, table salt, mirabilite, quartz sands, limestones, etc. All of them are being developed. Combustible gas is supplied through powerful gas pipelines to the Central Industrial Region of the country.

Turkmenistan is characterized by a sharply continental dry climate with its typical features - significant daily and annual fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, dry air, low cloudiness, and negligible amounts of precipitation. The continentality and aridity of the climate are associated with the considerable remoteness of the territory from the oceans, with its southern inland position and the nature of the atmospheric circulation.

As expected in a continental climate, air temperatures vary widely: on the plains - from 11º in the north to 17º in the south (on an annual average), and in the mountains at an altitude of 1500 m - from 6º to 10º.

The nature of Turkmenistan has thousands of plant species, ranging from desert grasses and saxaul to mountain forests. The fauna is represented by 91 species of mammals, 372 species of birds, 74 species of reptiles and 60 species of fish. A special distribution of flora and fauna is observed in mountain valleys. There are several reserves on the territory of Turkmenistan: Badkhyz, Krasnodar, Repetek, Kopetdag, Amudarya.

The population of Turkmenistan is 5,240,502 people.

Here one should try to write some problems of relations between the Central Asian states, based on the composition of the region. But these have not yet been identified.

Population

The history of Central Asia is extremely complex, the territory of which lay on the path of invasions by many conquerors and powerful migrations that influenced the composition of the population, the formation of languages, and culture. Large states were formed that left a deep mark on history, and collapsed under the blows of the conquerors. The periods of prosperity of cities, agricultural oases were replaced by their death and desolation, high achievements of science and art alternated with times of decline in culture, stagnation. On the ruins of the collapsed states, new ones arose, there were endless feudal wars.

Under these conditions, the process of ethnic formation of the peoples of Central Asia was going on. The initial elements of the ethnic community of today's nations were formed back in the 9th-12th centuries. The peoples of Central Asia are linked by ethnic kinship. In addition, the ancestors of many of them for a long time were part of the same states, fought together against foreign invaders. They were also brought together by their joint participation in uprisings against feudal rulers, as well as constant economic and cultural communication.

Demographic Issues

Among the demographic problems specific to Central Asia, it is worth noting some very important and significant ones. First of all, these are inter-ethnic and inter-confessional contradictions. It is worth recalling the facts of nine years ago to understand that Central Asia is not a stable region in terms of conflicts. The main lines of interethnic tension were conflicts between the titular ethnic groups, as well as between them and the non-indigenous population, which was no longer Russian, but Asian peoples deported to the region during the Soviet period or appeared here relatively recently as a result of labor migrations. As an example, one can recall the events of November 2006, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Alma-Ata events, when mass protests of Kazakhs took place against the appointment of the first secretary of the Republican Communist Party of a Russian by nationality G. Kolbin, there were clashes between Kazakhs and Uighurs in the village of Shelek, Alma-Ata areas. The riots began on November 18 with a domestic fight in the Old Castle cafe, in which three Uyghurs beat a Kazakh. The fight escalated into mass clashes between Kazakh and Uyghur youth, in which the Uyghurs were outnumbered. The next day, Kazakh youth decided to take revenge and started a fight in three cafes, which were visited by Uyghurs. The clashes, one of which involved up to 300 people on both sides, moved to the street and were only stopped thanks to the intervention of the elders. To prevent further clashes in the village, a kind of curfew was introduced, and the elders established control over entertainment establishments.

Another issue related to the demographics of Central Asia is migration. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, external migration processes in the states of Central Asia underwent fundamental changes twice. In the first half of the 1990s, powerful flows of forced migration from this region were observed. As the potential for forced migration (which was based on the migration of the Russian-speaking population) was exhausted, the scale of legal and illegal labor migration of the indigenous population of Central Asian countries began to grow. At present, labor migration of the indigenous population of the countries of Central Asia has assumed a large-scale character.

The main sources of labor migration flows from the region are three states: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. According to various estimates, at the end of 2005 there were from 1.8 to 3.5 million labor migrants from the countries of Central Asia in Russia, 9/10 of whom came from the above-mentioned countries. (from bibliography)

Due to the fact that labor migration is predominantly illegal, it is difficult to determine the real number of labor migrants. The statistical authorities of the countries of Central Asia and their migration partners are unable to give the exact scale of labor migration from the region. Information from authorities often requires certain adjustments to be made. Thus, according to the materials of the Department for External Migration of the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan, there are more than 250 thousand labor migrants from this country in the CIS countries. According to the State Migration Service of the Republic of Tajikistan, the volume of labor migration exceeds 0.5 million people. According to experts of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the number of labor migrants from Tajikistan is about 800 thousand people. According to the Committee for the Protection of the State Border of the Republic of Tajikistan, in 2001 alone, more than 1.2 million people left the country to earn money. This variation in estimates can be partially explained by the fact that the total number of migrants, in addition to citizens of Tajikistan, may include transit migrants (for example, from Afghanistan), the fact that many migrants cross the border several times during the year, etc.

Environmental problems. The most serious problem is the rational use of labor resources. The rivers are transboundary, the ecosystems of the basins are under threat. The solution of this issue is important both today and in the future. If the states located in the lower reaches of the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan) are constantly experiencing water shortages, then the states of the upper reaches (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) are faced with the problem of providing fuel resources from neighboring countries to load power plants in the winter, which leads to the additional use of hydroelectric facilities. However, the operation of hydroelectric power plants in winter at full capacity is fraught with negative consequences: a decrease in the volume of reservoirs, an excess of water discharge into the border areas of neighboring states. Thus, the problem of rational use of water and energy resources in Central Asia has long reached the level of interstate relations.

Central Asia is a continental zone, as far as possible from ocean routes. Its land communications are closed to Russia, while its air communications are underdeveloped. The region occupies a peripheral position in relation to many large blocks of the world geopolitical space: Western Europe, the USA, South and Southeast Asia. It is directly adjacent only to Russia, China and Middle East. This is partly the reason for the choice of Central Asia by Russia and China as subjects of regional policy.

It is also worth noting the managerial problems associated with political and economic processes:

Lack of a mechanism for the implementation of decisions. In Central Asia, there is a discrepancy between the positions of the participating states on many issues. The level of implementation of the adopted decisions remains low, and the documents themselves are of a general, recommendatory nature. In particular, the issue of rational use of water and energy resources of the countries of the Central Asian region remains problematic. The existence of many unresolved problems and the lack of coordinated actions of all parties to overcome them hinder the development of integration processes in the transport sector. In particular, the project to create an International Transport Consortium has not yet been implemented, the functioning of which would contribute to the formation of a common transport policy of the Central Asian states, the effective development of their transit potential.

Different levels of economic development in Central Asia. The states of the Central Asian region have a multi-level and multi-speed economy, which is a deterrent to deepening the integration interaction of the countries of Central Asia.

3. Inefficient development of mutual trade between the states of Central Asia. Differences in the pace and scale of economic liberalization, the low level of economic interaction between the states of Central Asia have become the main factors in the inefficient development of mutual trade between them. It should be noted that the economies of the Central Asian countries complement each other in many respects, which creates an opportunity to expand the range of goods in the mutual trade of the Central Asian states. The current situation indicates the presence of many unresolved problems in the regional cooperation of the countries of Central Asia, the level of implementation of the decisions being made remains low. Restraining factors in the development of regional cooperation are not only the different rates of economic transformation in the countries of Central Asia, but also the introduction of all kinds of restrictions in mutual trade, the presence of high political and economic risks of investment.

Solutions environmental issues region:

1. Prevention of artificial reduction in the volume and regime of flows of transboundary rivers into the Aral Sea, which can lead to a deterioration in the environmental situation in the Aral Sea zone, the health of the population, and the living conditions of millions of people living in this region;

2. Implementation of measures to curb the spread of desertification and soil salinization through forest planting and other agrotechnical and special measures in the ecological disaster zone;

Creation of conditions for the expansion of employment and growth of incomes of the population in the zone of ecological disaster through the development of small businesses, primarily low-water-intensive industrial and agricultural industries, and the service sector.

To achieve the goal of deepening integration processes in the region, it is necessary to focus on the most priority areas of economic cooperation. There are four such areas.

First, the joint rational use of water and energy resources. The priority of this area of ​​cooperation is explained by the fact that the Central Asian states are connected by common river basins of the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers, a single ecological system, a common line of gas pipelines Gazli-Bukhara-Tashkent-Shymkent-Almaty.

The following problems have arisen in the water management sphere of the region today:

1. general deficit water resources;

2. lack of a unified legal framework;

3. frequent disregard for the interests of neighboring countries;

4. Violations of existing principles of water distribution in transboundary rivers;

5. non-fulfillment of compensatory supplies (meaning compensation to Kyrgyzstan for water from the Toktagul reservoir in the form of supplies of heat and energy resources in the winter period).

All these problems can be solved only if there is sufficient political will of the Central Asian states. All issues should be resolved through constructive negotiations. The main thing is not to turn water into an instrument of political and economic pressure. It is necessary to give water the status of a common value. Water for Central Asia should become a unifying, not dividing principle. The interaction of the states of the region in this direction should be carried out on the basis of such generally accepted principles as respect for sovereignty, equal partnership, consideration of national interests and conscientious fulfillment of mutual obligations.

The main tasks to be addressed by the efforts of the countries of the region in this area are: