Urgench Urganch /گرگانج | |
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  Urgench Location in Uzbekistan | |
| Coordinates:41°33′N60°38′E / 41.550°N 60.633°E /41.550; 60.633 | |
| Country |  Uzbekistan |
| Region | Khorazm Region |
| Established | 1643 |
| Area | |
• Total | 30 km2 (10 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 91 m (299 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 145,000 |
| • Density | 4,800/km2 (13,000/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 220100 |
| Area code | (+998) 62 |
| Website | www |
Urgench (Uzbek:Urganch/Урганч/اورگنج,pronounced[urɡæntʃ];Russian:Ургенч,romanized: Urgench;Persian:گرگانج,romanized: Gorgânj) is a district-level city in westernUzbekistan. It is the capital ofXorazm Region.[2] The estimated population of Urgench in 2021 was 145,000,[1] an increase from 139,100 in 1999. It lies on theAmu Darya River and the Shavat canal. The city is situated 450 km (280 mi) west ofBukhara across theKyzylkum Desert.
The history of the city goes back to the second half of the 19th century. The city should not be confused with the similarly named city ofKonye-Urgench (also known as "Old Urgench" or "Gurgench") inTurkmenistan. The city of Old Urgench was left after the Amu Darya river changed its course in the 16th century, leaving the old town without water. New Urgench was founded by Russians in the second half of the 19th century at the site of a little trade station of theKhanate of Khiva.
Modern Urgench is aSoviet-style city withcotton motifs adorning many objects, from street lights to apartment houses. Of note is a monument to the twentyKomsomol members killed by Tekkebasmachi on the banks of theSyr Darya in 1922, and a large statue toMuhammad al-Khwarizmi, the 9th century localmathematician who revolutionisedalgebra, outside the Hotel Urgench. Urgench is the main gateway for tourists toKhiva, 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the southeast, whose old city, known asItchan Kala, is aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
The city is located 968 kilometers west ofTashkent, 6 kilometers west of theAmu Darya River's bank (at the Chalysh port) along the Shavkat Canal.
Urgench has acold desert climate (Köppen climate classificationBWk).
| Climate data for Urgench (1991–2020, extremes 1948–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.0 (71.6) | 31.0 (87.8) | 32.8 (91.0) | 38.2 (100.8) | 43.1 (109.6) | 43.5 (110.3) | 47.0 (116.6) | 46.4 (115.5) | 41.0 (105.8) | 35.3 (95.5) | 28.0 (82.4) | 21.3 (70.3) | 47.0 (116.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.5 (41.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 22.0 (71.6) | 29.0 (84.2) | 34.4 (93.9) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.0 (93.2) | 27.8 (82.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 10.6 (51.1) | 4.0 (39.2) | 20.0 (67.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) | 0.1 (32.2) | 7.4 (45.3) | 15.4 (59.7) | 22.1 (71.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.5 (83.3) | 26.0 (78.8) | 19.5 (67.1) | 12.2 (54.0) | 4.6 (40.3) | −0.6 (30.9) | 13.2 (55.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) | −4.4 (24.1) | 2.0 (35.6) | 8.9 (48.0) | 14.6 (58.3) | 19.1 (66.4) | 20.6 (69.1) | 18.0 (64.4) | 11.7 (53.1) | 5.3 (41.5) | −0.3 (31.5) | −4.3 (24.3) | 7.1 (44.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −26.1 (−15.0) | −26.1 (−15.0) | −17.2 (1.0) | −6.1 (21.0) | 1.1 (34.0) | 6.1 (43.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 5.0 (41.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | −10.8 (12.6) | −20.0 (−4.0) | −27.8 (−18.0) | −27.8 (−18.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 13.3 (0.52) | 15.9 (0.63) | 22.0 (0.87) | 18.8 (0.74) | 12.5 (0.49) | 5.1 (0.20) | 1.0 (0.04) | 1.8 (0.07) | 1.8 (0.07) | 5.9 (0.23) | 12.3 (0.48) | 12.5 (0.49) | 122.9 (4.83) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 80 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 80 | 74 | 68 | 51 | 41 | 39 | 41 | 46 | 51 | 56 | 65 | 77 | 57 |
| Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net[3] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Deutscher Wetterdienst (Humidity 1961-1990),[4]NOAA[5] | |||||||||||||
In the city, there are factories for various purposes, including those producing forage harvesters,cotton cleaning machines, oil extraction, repair excavators, and tire repair. There are alsosilk and sewing factories and the production of construction materials has been established.[6] Additionally, the Museum of Contemporary Art ofUzbekistan is in operation.
The city has a railway station on theTürkmenabat-Beyneu railway line. Urban transportation in Urgench includes buses, trolleybuses, and minibus taxis.[7] There is a unique trolleybus line between Urgench andKhiva, which is unusual forCentral Asia. The Urgench Airport holds international status and is capable of accommodating all types of passenger aircraft.[8] Regular flights operate to destinations includingTashkent,Moscow (Uzbekistan Airways,Siberia Airlines),Saint Petersburg,Paris,Rome, andMilan, as well as charter flights for tourists.[9]
In 1999, the 800th anniversary ofJalaluddin Manguberdi was celebrated in the city, and in 2001, the 2700th anniversary of the creation of the "Avesto" book was commemorated on an international scale.[10][11] In 2003, a number of major sports facilities were built in the city for the Republic Sports Competitions "Umid Nihollari" held inKhorezm. Tourism has developed, especially in connection with ancientKhiva. The local and foreign visitors are served by the "O'zbekiston Turizm" company's branch, as well as the "Jaykhun," "Khorezm Palace," and "Avesto" hotels.[12][13]
In the city, there are 27 newspapers and magazines published, including "Xorazm Haqiqati," "Urganch Oqshomi," "Yoshlar Ovozi," "Tujjor," and others.[14][15]
Media related toUrgench at Wikimedia Commons41°33′N60°38′E / 41.550°N 60.633°E /41.550; 60.633
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