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Uzbekistan

Central Asia

Photos of Uzbekistan

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Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the Aral Sea was the world&apos;s fourth-largest lake. In the 1960s, the Soviet Union began a massive irrigation project in what are now Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, diverting water from the rivers that feed the Aral Sea to irrigate farmland. As its water levels dropped, the lake began splitting into smaller pieces: the Northern (Small) Aral Sea and the Southern (Large) Aral Sea. The Southern Aral Sea further split into eastern and western lobes. In August 2009 when this photo was taken, the Northern Aral Sea (upper right) still appeared healthy, the Southern Aral Sea consisted of two isolated water bodies: an irregular oval shape directly southwest of the Northern Aral Sea, and the long, thin remainder of the Southern Aral Sea&apos;s far western lobe. Much of what finally doomed the Southern Aral Sea was an attempt to save its neighbor to the north. In 2005, Kazakhstan built the Kok-Aral Dam between the lake&apos;s northern and southern portions to preserve water levels in the north. The Northern Aral Sea actually exceeded expectations with the speed of its recovery, but the dam ended prospects for a recovery of the Southern Aral Sea, which some authorities already regarded as beyond help. Lake sediments from this depleted water body have provided ample material for frequent dust storms. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 59

Area - comparative

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People and Society

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Median age

comparison ranking: total 148

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 69

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 64

Death rate

comparison ranking: 190

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 149

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 110

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 85

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 57

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 96

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 82

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 30

Government

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Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 32

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 152

Labor force

comparison ranking: 45

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 87

Public debt

comparison ranking: 177

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 141

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 190

Exports

comparison ranking: 86

Imports

comparison ranking: 72

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 24

Energy

Communications

Internet users

comparison ranking: total 34

Transportation

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comparison ranking: 68

Railways

comparison ranking: total 41

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 20

Waterways

comparison ranking: 66

Military and Security

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comparison ranking: 39

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