Uzbekistan - Ferghana Province

Established: 1938
Area: 6,76 thousand sq. km
Population: 2709, 3 thousand

The province is located in the east of the country - in the south of Ferghana Valley. It consists of 15 rural districts; Oltyaryk, Okhunboboev, Boghdod, Besharyk, Buvayda, Danghara, Quva, Rishton, Sokh, Toshlok, Uzbekistan, Uchkuprik, Ferghana, Furkat, and Yozyavon ; 9 cities - Besharyk, Qoqon, Quva, Quvasoy, Margbilon, Rishton, Ferghana, Khamza, and Yaypan ; 10 town-type settlements, and 164 villages.

Agriculture: cotton, grain crops, fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, beekeeping, livestock farming, and cocoon production.
Industry: oil drilling and refining, production of construction materials, fertilizers, consumer goods, food, textile and chemical industries.

The city of Ferghana is the administrative center of the province (419 km away from Tashkent, 187,3 thousand people). The Ferghana Valley is a unique part of Central Asia. There are all kinds of landscape. Amazing nature of the valley is full of colors - from dark gray sands of Central Ferghana to dark green meadows of highland mountains.

The Ferghana province is located in the southern part of this wonderful valley. The climate in the province is one of the mildest in the area. The minimal temperatures in January reach 27 degrees below zero, while the maximum temperature in July reaches 46 degrees above zero. There is not much precipitation, and agriculture is mainly artificially watered. Henceforth, there are a iot of rivers in the province. The main river is Syr Darya. Its tributaries include Sokh, Oksu, Shokbimardon, Kosonsoy, Isfara, and Okbura, which flow down from surrounding mountains. There are vast irrigation structures put in place such as Big Ferghana canal, southern Ferghana canal, and Karkidon dam to curb those flows. The dense irrigation network has turned the valley into a prosperous land. Therefore, the province is called a pearl of Uzbekistan.

The land of the province is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, clay, cement, and other. Ferghana province maintains the third largest agriculture in the country. Cotton cultivation is the leading branch of agriculture in the province. Besides, cocoon production, cultivation of fruits, melons, watermelons, and grain, the beekeeping and livestock farming are well developed. Numerous collective farms, cooperative enterprises as well as farmer enterprises are operating in the province. Chemical, machinery, and construction materials enterprises are the leading industries.

All types of transportation are well developed. The total length of the railroad network is 227,8 km. The length of automobile roads is 8,600 km, 8,500 of which, is covered with asphalt. There are 863 general schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, special musical and sporting schools, a state university, pedagogical institute as well as branches of Tashkent universities in the province. More than 6,500 physicians and 26,2 mid-level medical personnel are working in 127 hospitals. There are 4 theaters, 335 ciubs, 737 libraries, 9 museums, and 9 sanatoriums.

The city of Ferghana is a real city-garden. It is a relatively young city. It was established in 1877 not far from Margilan city. It was initially named New Margilan, and later in 1907 - was renamed as Skobelev, In 1919 the city acquired the name Ferghana. It is a major industrial center with huge potential. A chemical factory, oil refineries, textile factories are the biggest industrial enterprises of the city.

Ferghana is also a cultural center of the province. There are lots of theaters, libraries, clubs, stadiums and parks. The city has no historical monuments, but its outskirts are famous for their picturesque landscape. In the Shakhimardon valley, located to the south of Ferghana on the northern slopes of Alai Mountains, there Is a mountain resort, namely Khamzaobod. It is famous for its mild climate and fresh air as well as blue lake, which is the main tourist attraction.

The Chimyon settlement located at the heart of Altyaryk valley is on the foothills of Alai mountain ranges. The settlement is famous for its healing mineral water wells. The Chimyon sanatorium is the biggest sanatorium in Central Asia.

Marghilon is the one of the ancient towns in Central Asia. It is located just 6 kilometers away from Ferghana. Its convenient location in the center of southern Ferghana ensured its stable development for hundred years. The town is located in cotton cultivating and cocoon producing area. Hence, its residents are masters of cocoon and silk material production. Their art of silk knitting has made the city a world famous. And even these days the Marghilon silk products are on high demand throughout the world.