Surxondaryo Region

Surkhondaryo Region Surxondaryo viloyati Сурхондарё вилояти Сурхандарьинская область
Region
Mausoleum of Hakim al-Termezi in Termez
Surxondaryo in Uzbekistan
Coordinates: 38°0′N 67°30′E / 38.000°N 67.500°E / 38.000; 67.500
Country	Uzbekistan
Capital	Termez
Government
• Hokim	Ulug‘bek Qosimov[1]
Area
• Total	20,099 km2 (7,760 sq mi)
Elevation	535 m (1,755 ft)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	2,680,800
• Density	130/km2 (350/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+5 (East)
ISO 3166 code	UZ-SU
Districts	14
Cities	8
Townships	7
Villages	114
Website	www.surxondaryo.uz

Surxondaryo Region^[a][b] is a region (viloyat) of Uzbekistan, located in the extreme south-east of the country. Established on 6 March 1941, it borders on Qashqadaryo Region internally, and Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan externally, going anticlockwise from the north. It takes its name from the river Surxondaryo, that flows through the region. It covers an area of 20,100 km².^[3] The population is estimated at 2,743,201 (beginning of 2022 data), with 80% living in rural areas.^[4][5] According to official data, 83% of the population are Uzbeks and 12,5% Tajiks,^[6] but several sources argue that the Tajik population might be significantly higher in this region (bitter debates accompanied the Soviet allocation of Surkhandarya Region to the Uzbek SSR rather than the Tajik SSR in 1929, as that region, as well as the areas of Bukhara and Samarkand, had sizable, if not dominant, Tajik populations), as well as in Samarkand and Bukhara.^{[7][full citation needed][better source needed]} The highest point of the Region and also of Uzbekistan is Khazrati Sulton peak reaching 4,643 m/15,233 ft in Gissar Range.^[8]

The regional capital is Termez with a population of 122,900 (2021),^[2] and the second largest city is Denov (Denau) with 78,300 inhabitants (data for 2016).^[5] Other towns include Boysun, Jarqoʻrgʻon, Qumqoʻrgʻon, Shargʻun, Sherobod, Shoʻrchi, and Sariosiyo.

The climate is continental, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers. The southern part of the region is in the Badkhiz-Karabil semi-desert ecoregion (PA0808), characterized by a savanna of pistachio and desert sedge. The northern portion is characterized by open woodlands (Gissaro-Alai open woodlands ecoregion, PA1306), with characteristic plants being pistachio, almond, walnut, apple, and juniper. Sagebrush is common at lower elevations ^[9][10]

Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Light industry, mainly cotton ginning and food processing, is also an important part of the regional economy, particularly in the production of consumer goods. Agriculture is based primarily on cotton and cereals, supplemented with horticulture and viticulture. Surxondaryo is the country's largest supplier of long-fiber cotton. Livestock accounts for 40% of regional agricultural product.^[5] The climatic conditions of this region also make it possible to cultivate subtropical crops such as sugarcane.

The region has a well-developed transport infrastructure, with 300 km of railways and 2,700 km of surfaced roads.^[5] Central Asia's only river port is located at Termez on the Amudarya River.

Bitter debates accompanied the Soviet allocation of Surkhandarya Region to the Uzbek SSR rather than the Tajik SSR in 1929, as that region, as well as the areas of Bukhara and Samarkand, had sizable, if not dominant, Tajik populations.^{[citation needed]}

The Surxondaryo Region consists of 14 districts (listed below) and one district-level city: Termez.^[3][11]

There are 8 cities (Termez, Boysun, Denov, Jarqoʻrgʻon, Qumqoʻrgʻon, Shargʻun, Sherobod, Shoʻrchi) and 112 urban-type settlements in the Surxondaryo Region.^[3][11]

Agriculture accounts for 42% of total employment in Surxondaryo Region and produces 8% of Uzbekistan’s agricultural output. Agricultural production is 56% crops and 44% livestock (like the country’s average). Milk yields are less than 1,700 kg per cow per year, on a par with the national average.

Main characteristics of agriculture in Surxondaryo Region^[5][12]

• 
  Two different streams flow into one (a healing spring and the river itself in blue)
• 
  Market at the foot of Khujaypok
• 
  Healing bath from a hydrogen-chloride source. Treats infectious skin diseases and difficult to heal wounds
• 
  The Khujaypok river

• Map of Surxondaryo Region (Russian).