UZBEKISTAN

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Uzbekistan is bordered on the west and north by Kazakhstan, on the east by Kyrgyzstan, on the southeast by Tajikistan, and on the south by Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan is a landlocked country, The northern central part of Uzbekistan is covered by Kizilkum which is one of the world's largest sand deserts. Amu Derya and Syr Deraya, two main bodies of river provide the irrigation which the agriculture is dependent on. The branches of the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains which rise in the east cross into Uzbekistan from the neighboring country Kyrgyzstan, reaching a height of 4,600 meters ( 15,200 ft. ).

Uzbekistan has a harsh continental climate. Four distinct seasons create great fluctuations in temperature over the course of a year. Average daily temperatures in January range from -6° to 2°C (21° to 36°F) and in July from 26° to 32°C (79° to 90°F), although temperatures can be much more extreme. There are also wide ranges of temperature between day and night. Precipitation is scant, and the long, hot summers are marked by drought, although the only truly arid region in Uzbekistan is the Kizilkum desert. The wettest months are March and April. Snow is common from December through February, although snow cover often melts within a couple of days.