The Republic of Uzbekistan is a Central Asian nation and a former Soviet Republic.  Its capital and biggest city is Tashkent, and has a population of over 35 million people.
Geographically, it is in the heart of Central Asia and surrounded by Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. It is one of the only two doubly-landlocked countries on earth,  with Liechtenstein, the least-visited country in Europe, being the second. (Landlocked means no access to the sea or the Atlantic, so doubly-landlocked means surrounded by other landlocked countries).  Uzbekistan is a predominantly Islamic country with more than 80% Muslims (the majority regarded as Sunni Muslims). It is best known for its mosques, mausoleums, and other sites linked to the “Silk Road” (the name of the lucrative trade in silk trade route between China, the Mediterranean, and other major cities). Its economy is dependent on agriculture and it is one of the largest cotton growers worldwide. Besides this, it also cultivates, grapes, vegetables, and wheat, and raises animals, including goats, sheep, and cattle. Additionally, Uzbekistan’s land produces natural gas, oil, gold, copper, and other minerals. Read on to learn more about my visit to Uzbekistan, the country in the heart of Central Asia.