Central Asia
Defines key geographic and geographic-related contextual relationships for Central Asia.
Regions
Situates Central Asia within larger cultural and geographic regions.
Central Asia
Central Asia is a vast transcontinental region characterized by high deserts, extensive steppes, and mountain ranges. It includes countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, bordering Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. It influences regional climate and ecology.
Pamir and Alay Mountain Ranges
The Pamir and Alay ranges are high-altitude mountainous zones forming some of the most dramatic passes and peaks in High Asia, across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan covers much of northern Central Asia with expansive steppes, semi-desert, and large lakes like Balkhash and Caspian shores.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a rugged land of high peaks, alpine lakes like Issyk-Kul, and traditional nomadic culture cradled by the Tien Shan mountains.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistanfeatures historic cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, vast desert basins, and remnants of ancient trade and cultural exchange.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is characterized by Karakum Desert sands, monumental Soviet-era architecture, and cultural sites like Merv and Ashgabat.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a mountainous land of rugged peaks, deep river valleys, and iconic passes like prehrusheva and Anzob, with a strong Central Asian cultural identity.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan features some of the Himalaya and Hindu Kush’s highest peaks, historic passes, and a layered cultural tapestry spanning millennia.
Physical Features
Highlights key physical landforms and hydrographic features that define Central Asia.
Tien Shan Mountains
The Tien Shan are a major mountain system spanning Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and China, known for high peaks, alpine lakes, and extensive glaciers.
Kazakh Steppe
The Kazakh Steppe__ is a vast, arid-to-semiarid grassland region covering much of northern Kazakhstan, historically home to nomadic herders.
Darband and Toq-Qala Gorge
Darband and Toq-Qala are deep mountain gorges and trail corridors carving through Tien Shan and connected to high passes and alpine routes.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan links the Caucasus mountains with the Caspian Sea, featuring volcanic lands, river valleys, and historic capital Baku.
Karakum Desert
The Karakum Desert is a vast arid basin covering much of Turkmenistan, characterized by shifting sands, sparse vegetation, and extreme temperatures.