Karakalpakstan

Travel Blog  •  Ben Keene  •  11.10.06 | 12:50 PM ET

Coordinates: 43 0 N 58 0 E
Population: 1,400,000 (2006 est.)
imageWhile it’s unlikely that he will inspire as many people to actually visit the glorious nation of Kazakhstan, one can hope that a percentage of the millions who’ve already rushed to see Sasha Baron Cohen’s movie “Borat!: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” will be inspired to learn something about Central Asia. If so, they might investigate Karakalpakstan,  the autonomous republic in the westernmost part of Uzbekistan, due south of the shrinking Aral Sea. Compelled under Stalin to adopt a Soviet identity, the population of this massive expanse of harsh geography includes Tartars, Uygurs and Karakalpaks, in addition to Uzbeks, Tajiks and Kazakhs. Located atop numerous large mineral deposits, Karakalpakstan is also bordered by two deserts and the arid Ustyurt Plateau, and thus lacks an equivalent wealth in resources above ground.

—.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) is the editor of the Oxford Atlas of the World.