Coordinates: 39°50′N 66°15′E / 39.833°N 66.25°E / 39.833; 66.25

Samarqand Province
Samarqand viloyati
Country	Uzbekistan
Capital	Samarkand
Area	16,400 km2 (6,332 sq mi)
Population	2,322,000 (2005)
Density	142 /km2 (368 /sq mi)
ISO 3166-2	UZ-SA

Samarqand Province (Samarkand Province) (Uzbek: Samarqand viloyati) is a viloyat (province) of Uzbekistan located in the center of the country in the basin of Zarafshan River. It borders with Tajikstan, Navoiy Province, Jizzakh Province and Qashqadaryo Province. It covers an area of 16,400 km². The population is estimated to be around 2,322,000, with some 75% living in rural areas.

Samarqand Province was established on January 15, 1938,^[1] and is divided into 14 administrative districts.^[2] The capital is Samarqand (pop est 368,000 inhabitants). Other major towns include Bulung‘ur, Juma, Ishtixon, Kattaqo‘rg‘on, Urgut, and Oqtosh.

The climate is a typically arid continental climate.

At the entrance to the Samarqand Province from the Qashqadaryo Province

Samarkand is the 2nd largest center for economy, science, and culture in Uzbekistan, after Tashkent. The Institute of Archeology at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan is based at Samarqand. The Province's UNESCO World Heritage Site architectural monuments are world famous, and make Samarkand the largest center for international tourism in the country.

Samarqand Province also has significant natural resources, including construction materials such as marble, granite, limestone, carbonate, and chalk. The Province's major agricultural activities are cotton and cereal growing, winemaking and sericulture. In terms of industry, metal processing (spare parts for automobiles and combines), food processing, textiles, and ceramics industries are the most active in the area.

The province has a well-developed transport infrastructure, with over 400 km of railways and 4100 km of surfaced roads. The telecommunication infrastructure is also well developed.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Districts of Samarqand

Latinization of district names according to Samarqand regional web site on gov.uz

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Samarkand viloyat

v • d • e Provinces of Uzbekistan Andijon · Bukhara · Fergana · Jizzakh · Namangan · Navoiy · Qashqadaryo · Samarqand · Sirdaryo · Surxondaryo · Tashkent · Xorazm · Autonomous republic: Karakalpakstan · Capital city: Tashkent