History

The Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan's westernmost region. In 1936, as part of Stalin's nationality policy, the Karakalpaks (a Turkic Muslim group whose name literally means "black hat") were given their own territory in western Uzbekistan, which was declared an autonomous Soviet socialist republic to define its ethnic differences while maintaining it within the republic of Uzbekistan. In 1992 Karakalpakstan received republic status within independent Uzbekistan. Since that time, the central government in Tashkent has maintained pressure and tight economic ties that have kept the republic from exerting full independence.

Today, the population of Karakalpakstan is approximately 1.5 million people. Located in the fertile lower reaches of the Amu Darya where now, the river in most years, barely reaches the Aral Sea. Currently, it is home to the worst man-made ecological disasters in the last century, the near total destruction of the Aral Sea due to the diversion of water for irrigation. The desiccation of the Aral Sea has resulted in the loss of its fishing, tourist, and shipping industries, the destruction of the ecosystem of the Sea and deltas and has made Karakalpakstan one of the poorest and most environmentally devastated parts of Uzbekistan, if not the entire former Soviet Union.

The size of Karakalpakstan accounts for approximately 37% of Uzbekistan’s land area and has a population of 1.5 million people. It is one of the poorest regions of Uzbekistan, with a significant percentage of the population living below the absolute poverty level.