Central Asia is commonly used to identify the following republics: Uzbekistan, Kirghizstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.

The Central Asian climate is quite arid. The main portion of the territory is occupied by deserts. The most precipitation is in the mountains regions of Central Asia. Mountain rivers are the main irrigate source for the territories of Central Asia (Fergana valley, Hungry Steppe, Kara-Kum channel). Unfortunately, simultaneously the large usage of water for irrigation in the past era has led to the diminishing of the Aral Sea.
The main rivers of Central Asia are the Amudarya and the Sirdarya that flow to the Aral Sea, and the Ili river that flows to Balkhash.

The majority of population is represented by Turkic nations: Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kirghizes, Turkmens, Karakalpaks, Uigurs, and Tatars (who migrated here from Kazan and Crimea, Tatarstan).
The Tajiks are Persian descendants (the Tajik language is close to Farsi). Islam is the most widely practiced religion throughout Central Asia.

Agriculture and mineral extraction are the main economic resources of Central Asia. Thanks to hot summers, cotton-growing and other horticulture are widely spread. Sheep and camels are mainly bred on deserted pastures. Among the extracted minerals of Central Asia, the most abundant are oil and natural gas. There are also many ores of non-ferrous metals.

Kazakhstan

Area: 2 717 300 sq km.
Population: over 17 million (Kazakhs, Russians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Tatars, Volga Germans)
Climate: sharply continental with variations depending on the altitude.
Capital: Astana
Main cities: Almaty, Karaganda, Chimkent, Semipalatinsk.
Language: Kazakh, Russian.
Religion: Islam–Sunni Muslims.
Currency: Tenghe

Travel around Kazakhstan:

Almaty, the ex-capital of Kazakhstan is a beautiful city with long avenues  located at an altitude of 800 m and surrounded by mountains. Panfilov’s Park is one of the most visited parks in Kazakhstan and has the monument for the participants of Great Patriotic War, a wooden cathedral built at the beginning of the 20th century. A picture gallery made in the honor of T. Shevchenko is represented at the Art Museum of Kazakhstan. The Museum of Pictorial Art reveals the history of Kazakhstan from the Paleolithic epoch until present.

Jambul

Taraz is the former name of this city. In ancient times, it had been a large trade center on the Great Silk Road, which connected Asia with Europe. On the outskirts of Jambul are mausoleums of Aisha –bibi and Badadji-khatum built in the 12th century.

The canyon encompassing the Charyn River is referred to as the Kazakh Colorado. The Charyn River flows from the Tien-Shan Mountains and runs 175 km from Almaty.

Turkmenistan

Area: 488 100 sq km.
Population: 3 534 000 (Turkmens, Russians, Uzbeks)
Climate: arid and hot.
Capitol: Ashgabat
Main cities: Turkmenabad, Mary.
Language: Turkmen.
Religion: Islam–Sunni Muslims.
Currency: Manat

Travel around Turkmenistan:

Ashgabat, the capital city of Turkmenistan, has a few historic monuments in the city. The city itself resembles a big park with streets fringed with aryks (irrigation ditches) and plain trees. The Turkmen Museum of Plastic Arts possesses the most beautiful collection of carpets; one of the exhibits being the largest carpet in the world.

Nissa, the first Parthian capitol, is located at the west end of the Karakum Desert. In the 3rd century, after the fall of the Arasids dynasty, the town was pillaged. Only the ruins testify to the brilliant period of the Arasids’ dynasty. The ancient town of Merv is located near the modern town of Mary. During the antique epoch, Merv had been the key city of the caravan routes. In Indian and Iranian mythology, this city was worshiped as the cradle of the Arian nation. Genghis-khan and Timur destroyed Kunya-Urgench, the former capital of the Khoresmshakh State; however the Turabek-khanum mausoleum (the 14th century) was preserved where the spouse of one of the greatest rulers of Khoresm, Kutlugh Timur, is buried. Other sites include the Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum, the highest minaret in Central Asia “Kutlug Timur” (63 m tall), the Alp Arslan Mausoleum, the Kyrk Mulla hill, Caravan-Sarai, the Nadjmiddin Kubra Mausoleum (14th century) – the founder of Sufi brotherhood “kubravi”, and the Fakhriddin Razi mausoleum (12th –13th centuries).

Kirghizstan

Area: 198 500 sq km.
Population: 4 291 000 (Kirghiz, Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Tatars)
Climate: mild.
Capital: Bishkek
Main cities: Bishkek, Osh.
Language: Kirghiz.
Religion: Islam–Sunni Muslims.
Currency: Som

Travel around Kirghizstan:

Accurate lines of avenues cross the capital city of Bishkek. The city has abundant parks and fountains. The Exposition of History Museum presents a collection of Kirghiz paintings. The Ala-Artcha River flows near the capitol and traverses the forest reserve forming a picturesque canyon. In the south of the city is the Chuiskaya Valley Buran tower – an ancient minaret built in the 11th century. 
The Non-freezing Issyk-Kul Lake (translation: hot lake) is the second largest mountainous lake in area after Lake Titikaka. Lake Issyk-Kul is located in the Tien-Shan (heavenly mountains) mountain range.

Mountain climbing and hiking along The Tien-Shan mountain range in the Song-Kul and Issyk-Kul Lake regions is very captivating.

Tajikistan

Area: 143 100 sq km.
Population: 5 112 000 (Tajiks, Uzbeks, Russians)
Climate: arid and mountainous, mild in the valleys.
Capital: Dushanbe
Main cities: Khodjent, Kurgan-tyube.
Language: Tajik.
Religion: Islam–Sunni Muslims.
Currency: Samani

Travel around Tajikistan.

Pendjikent.

In the Zarafshan River Valley (1,5 km from the modern Pendjikent) you will find the ruins of the ancient town Sogd founded in the 5th century BC and abandoned in the 8th century AD during the Arabic invasion. Housing foundations and the lower town were recently discovered. The most precious antiques and artifacts are displayed at the Tashkent Historical Museum and the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. Pendjikent promenades in the lap of splendid nature and the Fergana and Zarafshan mountain ranges are fascinating.