Geography of Uzbekistan

The previous post talked specifically about the Ustyurt Plateau, a land feature in western UZBEKISTAN. Focusing on a countrywide scale of the former-Soviet country, it is interesting to note the contrast between the western and eastern portions. The western half features water bodies like the Aral Sea, a lake called Sariqamish Ko'li, and the Amu Darya river. However, the climate is arid and desert-like regardless of local efforts to grow crops with the help of irrigation. Also, the west is generally low in elevation. Meanwhile, some parts of eastern Uzbekistan are higher in elevation thanks to mountain ranges. Contrasting with the west, the east boasts naturally fertile areas like the Fergana Valley, so it is easier for the Uzbek people to grow crops in the east rather than the west.