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The Fergana Valley is known as "the
Garden of Uzbekistan Surrounded by mountains, and crossed by the
Syr-Darya and Naryn rivers, it has the soil and climate most favourable
for agriculture, which has prospered here for thousands of years.
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green valley is the most picturesque oasis in Central Asia, and
provides the opportunity to combine mountain trips with visits to
old cities and archaeological sites. In the geographical center
of the valley is Fergana, the administrative center of the region.
Just a small village only two hundred years ago, it developed into
a political center in the time of Russian expansion in Central Asia
and played a significant role in the "Great Game", a rivalry
between the Russian and British Empires for domination of Asia.
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architectural style of Fergana and the valley is a mixture of Central
Asian and Russian. The most beautiful building of Fergana is "Skobolevs'
House", a palace built for General Skobolev, head of the Russian
troops who annexed Central Asia to the Russian Empire. It is today
used as a theatre. |
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| North
of Fergana on the road to Namangan and Kokand, on the high bank
of the Syr- Darya river, there still stand the great walls of Akhsikent,
the native city of Zakhiriddin Babur, the founder of the Mogul Empire.
It was totally ruined in an earthquake in the 16th
century. The walls follow the river and disappear in the distance
on both sides of the road. Across the river, one can still see the
mouth of a tunnel dug under the city as an escape route if the city
should be conquered. |
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| Kokand,
1 10 km north of Fergana, is the traditional religious center of
the valley, with some interesting mosques and madrassahs from the
16th to 20th centuries. |
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| Margilan,
6 km from Fergana, is one of the oldest Central Asian towns still
retaining its traditional medieval silhouette. |
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