The city of Khujand is the cultural center of Tajikistan. History of Khujand Museum of History and Local Lore" of archeology and fortification

It is the second largest city in the country and one of the oldest in Central Asia. According to the 2018 census, it is home to more than 179 thousand people.

Khujand is located in a beautiful valley on the banks of the Syrdarya River, with mountains rising around it. Thanks to this location, the air in the city is fresh and clean. Khujand is not a modern metropolis, but rather an echo of Soviet and post-Soviet times. The streets of the city are calm and bright, and the people are friendly and helpful. In the markets you can buy very tasty, juicy and inexpensive fruits.

Khujand is an ancient city. No one can say exactly when people first settled here. The founding date of Khujand is considered to be 514 BC. e.

In the VI century. BC e. the city was conquered by Alexander the Great and was named Alexandria Eskhati. In the 8th century it was captured by the Arabs, and in the 13th century. - Tatar-Mongols, who almost completely destroyed the city. But thanks to its favorable location and the fact that trade routes passed through it, the city was restored. Over time, it turned into a major center of science, culture, politics and trade.

In 1866, Khujand was conquered by the Russian Empire and received new opportunities for development. During Soviet times, the city was renamed Leninabad.

How to get there

Khujand can be reached from the capital of Tajikistan or from Uzbekistan. A taxi from Tashkent will not cost too much. The path from Dushanbe runs through two mountain passes; the journey will take at least 5 hours.

There are trains from Dushanbe to Khujand, but this type of transport is not entirely convenient, since you have to cross the border with Uzbekistan, and inspection at Uzbek customs takes a lot of time and is scrupulous.

Planes fly from the capital to Khujand three times a day. This transportation option is not only convenient, but also allows you to admire the Pamirs from above. The airport is located 10 km from Khujand.

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Eskhata) is a city in northern Tajikistan, the administrative center of the Sughd region.

Population - 169.7 thousand inhabitants (2014).

One of the oldest cities in Central Asia. The second largest city in Tajikistan, an important transport hub, political, economic, cultural and scientific center of the country. Khujand agglomeration with a population of 584,400 people.

Airport, Khujand railway station (11 km from the center of Khujand, in the city of Gafurov).

• 1 Title
• 2 Transport
• 3 Population
• 4 Geography and climate
  • 4.1 Climate
• 5 History
  • 5.1 antiquity
  • 5.2 Russian Empire
  • 5.3 USSR
  • 5.4 Modern Tajikistan
• 6 Culture, education
• 7 Attractions
• 8 Twin Cities
• 9 Notes
• 10 Links

Name

The modern Russian name of the city is Khujand, sometimes transliterated as Khujand or Khujand.

From the time of the Russian Empire until 1936, the name of the city was Persian. خجند‎, in Russian it was customary to render it as Khojent.

From January 10, 1936 to February 26, 1991, the city bore the name Leninabad (in honor of V.I. Lenin (Ulyanov)), while in historical literature for the period before 1936 the spelling Khojent was preserved, and this spelling continued to be used in official practice in the name of the Khojent region of the Tajik SSR.

By Decree of the Supreme Council of the Tajik SSR No. 246 of February 26, 1991, the city returned its historical name.

Transport

The city is served only by numerous minibuses. Bus and trolleybus routes were abolished (in 1994 there were 11 trolleybus routes).

Population

Khujand is the second most populous city in Tajikistan after Dushanbe. According to the 1897 census, 28,431 residents of the city indicated Tajik as their native language, 595 Uzbek, 305 Sart, 458 Russian. The population of the Khujand agglomeration is 584,400 people.

Geography and climate

Khujand is located on the banks of the Syrdarya, below the Kairakkum reservoir, 35 km above the Uzbek Bekabad, on the territory of the Fergana Valley, between the spurs of the Turkestan ridge in the south and the Mogoltau mountains in the north.

The city is located 200 km northeast of Dushanbe (300 km by road).

Climate

Quote from the St. Petersburg Gazette, 1868 (No. 215, 219):

“...Khojent is located on the banks of the excellent, high-water Syrdarya and is surrounded on all sides by mountains, along the slopes of which there are green luxurious gardens, and all this together - water, mountains and vegetation in the summer, with the local heat and droughts, gives the air favorable freshness and purity, in the winter moderation. ...Khojent is completely surrounded by magnificent gardens, of which there are more here than in other areas of the region. All these orchards are fruit, the fruits grow here in amazing abundance and the surrounding cities are supplied with them...”

The formation of the climate of Tajikistan, including Khujand, is greatly influenced by the same air masses that invade the territory of Central Asia and determine the nature and changes of weather. Precipitation in the Khujand region and throughout the Fergana Valley is mainly associated with cyclonic activity and the nature of the underlying surface.

The main role in precipitation is played by the South Caspian, Murghab and Upper Amu Darya cyclones, as well as cold air masses moving from the west, northwest and north. Reaching the frontal surface of the mountains, the incoming air masses rise along this surface, cool and receive an additional effect for the formation of clouds and precipitation. All these air masses invade the Fergana Valley from the west and southwest, but on their way they collide with the western and southwestern slopes of the mountain ranges of Northern Tajikistan and they receive more precipitation than the leeward slopes, intermountain valleys and basins. Thus, on the windward slopes of the Zeravshan, Turkestan and Kurama ranges, the amount of precipitation per year is more than 400-800 mm. This is confirmed by the fact that in winter a deep snow cover forms in these mountainous areas, which is associated with avalanches in the spring. As they move deeper into the mountainous country, these air masses reach inland areas that are greatly depleted in moisture, as a result of which intermountain valleys and deep basins receive very little precipitation. In Khujand, the annual amount of precipitation falls: in the cold season of the year 87 mm, and the greatest amount is in March and April (25-27 mm); the smallest in the summer months (9-11 mm, Aug.).

As a rule, precipitation in the form of snow falls only at sub-zero temperatures. In the Khujand region, stable snow cover is absent in 20% of the winter, and in 3-10% of the winter it does not form at all. Here, the depth of snow cover only in February reaches an average of 1-3 cm, and is absent during the rest of the year. The highest ten-day depth of snow cover was observed in the third ten days of February - 47 cm. The average date of appearance of snow cover is December 15, and the earliest is October 31. The number of days with snow cover is exactly 21.

Story

In ancient times

The history of the city goes back to ancient times. The city existed during the Achaemenid dynasty. The troops of Alexander the Great, having captured the city, fortified it, calling it Alexandria Eskhata (Extreme)(Greek: Ἀλεξάνδρεια Ἐσχάτη).

In the 8th century The city was captured by the Arabs. In 1219-1220, the city offered fierce resistance to the troops of Genghis Khan, but was destroyed.

Since ancient times, Khujand, located at the crossroads of trade routes of the East, on the Great Silk Road, was one of the most important economic, military-strategic and cultural centers of Transoxiana.

Khujand was the birthplace of famous astronomers, mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school. In the 14th century, Kamol Khujandi, the author of the famous gazelles, was called the “Nightingale of Khujand”. Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti. In the 19th century, such cultural figures as Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Hafiz, and Khoja Yusuf carried out active educational work in Khujand.

In the Russian Empire

On May 24, 1866, the city was occupied by the Russian army and became part of the Russian Empire (see Central Asian possessions of the Russian Empire). The entry into the empire of the center of a densely populated district with rich economic resources, the most important road junction between the Fergana Valley, the Tashkent oasis and the Zeravshan Valley, a large trading point, opened up new opportunities for the development of Khujand.

The city was the administrative center of the Khojent district of the Samarkand region.

In July 1916, the Central Asian uprising began in the city.

IN THE USSR

At the beginning of 1918, Soviet power was established in the city; on October 2, 1929, it was included in the Tajik SSR.

In 1941, the Tajik Agricultural Institute was located in Leninabad, which was a university of the People's Commissariat of Agriculture of the USSR and had a postal address: Leninabad city, Krasnaya street, house No. 25.

In the post-war period, Leninabad became the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry became diversified, equipped with advanced domestic and foreign technology; a silk factory, one of the largest enterprises in the republic, operated in the city. In 1991, dozens of enterprises in Khujand produced the same amount of industrial products per day as in the entire pre-revolutionary Tajikistan in a year. The silk factory's fabrics were sent to 450 cities of the USSR and to foreign countries.

Since the 60s, Leninabad has been actively expanding its borders. The city stepped onto the right bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it.

In 1970, trolleybus service was launched in Leninabad.

During the years of Soviet power, radical changes took place in the field of healthcare. By 1991, there were 40 medical and preventive institutions in Khujand, employing about 2.5 thousand doctors and specialists with higher and secondary medical degrees. education.

Major changes have occurred in the field of public education. 1991 there were 30 schools in Khujand, attended by about 30 thousand students.

In 1986, the city celebrated its anniversary - the 2500th anniversary of its founding. In connection with this Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the city was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

Modern Tajikistan

The XVI session of the Supreme Council, held in the Arbob Palace 10 km from Khujand in November 1992, restored the constitutional order in the republic and elected E. Sh. Rakhmonov as chairman of the Supreme Council.

Culture, education

Theater. Historical, local history, archaeological museum, park in honor of the poet Kamol Khujandi, which includes the mausoleum and house-museum of the poet.

In 1932, the Pedagogical Institute was opened, where only 26 people studied. Today, more than 10 thousand students study at 16 faculties of this university, which was transformed into Khujand State University in 1991.

Attractions

The medieval citadel, the mosque-mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin (XVII-XVIII centuries), the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene - the oldest Orthodox church in Tajikistan, built in 1884 at the expense of the Moscow merchant Khludov. Monument to the city-born poet Kamol Khujandi.

Twin Cities

• Shymkent (Kazakhstan)
• Akstafa (Azerbaijan)
• Lincoln (USA)
• Orenburg (Russia)

Notes

1. 1 2 3 4 Agency for Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. Population of Tajikistan as of January 1, 2013 (Russian) (01/01/2013). Retrieved September 19, 2013.
2. Atlas of the world. - M.: PKO "Cartography" of the Federal Agency of Geodesy and Cartography of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation: Onyx Publishing House, 2008.
3. Sovetabad - article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd edition)
4. Demoscope Weekly - Application. Directory of statistical indicators
5. For the location of Alexandria Eschata, see also the article Antioch of Zajaxartes.
6. Oriental flavor of Dushanbe:: On the flight with you

Links

• Official website of the city
• City portal of Khujand
• Coat of arms of the city of Khojent, 1910
• TSB: Leninabad
• Khojent // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

Khujand kt, Khujand bakhoriston, Khujand Dushanbe flight, Khujand zaks, Khujand map, Khujand Moscow, Khujand weather, Khujand city, Khujand Tajikistan, Khujand Chkalovsk

Khujand Information About

:  /  (G) 40.283333 , 69.616667 40°17′00″ n. w. 69°37′00″ E. d. /  40.283333° N. w. 69.616667° E. d.(G)

Name

The modern Russian name of the city is Khujand, sometimes transliterated as Khujand, Khujand.

During the Russian Empire and until 1936, the Persian name of the city was Persian. خجند in Russian was usually rendered as Khojent.

By Decree of the Supreme Council of the Tajik SSR No. 246 of February 26, 1991, the city returned its historical name.

Population

Khujand is the second most populous city in Tajikistan after Dushanbe.

Geography and climate

Khujand is located on the banks of the Syr Darya, below the Kairakkum reservoir, 35 above the Uzbek Bekabad. Entrance to the Fergana Valley, between the spurs of the Turkestan Range in the south and the Mogoltau Mountains in the north.

The city is located 200 km northeast of Dushanbe (341 km by road).

Climate

Quote from the St. Petersburg Gazette, 1868 (No. 215, 219):

«… Khojent is located on the banks of the excellent, high-water Syrdarya and is surrounded on all sides by mountains, along the slopes of which there are green luxurious gardens, and all this together - water, mountains and vegetation in the summer, with the local heat and drought, gives the air favorable freshness and purity, and in winter it is moderate. ...Khojent is completely surrounded by magnificent gardens, of which there are more here than in other areas of the region. All these orchards are fruit, the fruits grow here in amazing abundance and the surrounding cities are supplied with them...»

Khujand was the birthplace of famous astronomers, mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school. In the 14th century, Kamoli Khujandi, the author of the famous gazelles, was called the “Nightingale of Khujand”. Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti. In the 19th century, cultural figures such as Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Hafiz, and Khoja Yusuf carried out active educational work in Khujand.

As part of the Russian Empire

In the post-war period, Leninabad became the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry became diversified, equipped with advanced domestic and foreign technology; a silk factory, one of the largest enterprises in the republic, operated in the city. In 1991, dozens of enterprises in Khujand produced the same amount of industrial products per day as in the entire pre-revolutionary Tajikistan in a year. The silk factory's fabrics were sent to 450 cities of the USSR and to foreign countries. Since the 60s, Khujand has been actively expanding its borders. The city stepped onto the right bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it. During the years of Soviet power, radical changes took place in the field of healthcare. By 1991, there were 40 medical and preventive institutions in Khujand, employing about 2.5 thousand doctors and specialists with higher and secondary medical degrees. education. Major changes have occurred in the field of public education. In 1991, there were 30 schools in Khujand, attended by about 30 thousand students.

Independent Tajikistan

The XVI session of the Supreme Council, held in Khujand in November 1992, restored the constitutional order in the republic and elected E. Sh. Rakhmonov as chairman of the Supreme Council.

Culture, education

Theater. Historical, local history, archaeological museums.

In 1932, the Pedagogical Institute was opened, where only 26 people studied. Today, more than 10 thousand students study at 13 faculties of this university, which was transformed into Khujand State University in 1991.

Attractions

Medieval citadel, mosque-mausoleum of Sheikh Muslekhetdin (17-18 centuries). Monument to a city-born poet

Khujand (sometimes transliterated as Khojent, Khujand) is an ancient city in the northern part of Tajikistan, the administrative center of the Sughd region (formerly called Leninabad), in Soviet times from 1936 to 1991. It was called Leninabad. The second largest city in Tajikistan after Dushanbe, the most important transport hub, as well as the political, economic, cultural and scientific center of the country.

The history of the city goes back to ancient times. Modern historical science believes that archaic Khujand existed during the Achaemenid dynasty, that is, before the troops of Alexander the Great arrived on the banks of the Syr Darya. Having captured the city, they fortified it, calling it Alexandria Eskhata (Extreme).

In subsequent periods, Khujand more than once had to find itself at the center of historical events. In the 8th century it was captured by the Arabs in the 13th century. the city offered fierce resistance to the Mongol invaders, temporarily delaying the advance of Genghis Khan's hordes to the west.

Since ancient times, Khujand, being at the crossroads of trade routes of the East, was one of the most important economic, military-strategic and cultural centers of Transoxiana. The Great Silk Road passed through it, connecting ancient Greece, Rome, Asia Minor, Egypt, Iran with India, China and Japan. Khujand was the birthplace of famous astronomers, mathematicians, doctors, historians, poets, and musicians. One of them is Abumakhmud Khujandi, the founder of the local astronomical school, an outstanding authority in world science. In the 14th century, Kamoli Khujandi, the author of the famous gazelles, was called the “Nightingale of Khujand”. Equally popular in the Middle Ages was the outstanding poetess, musician and dancer Mahasti. In the 19th century, cultural figures such as Toshkhoja Asiri, Sodirkhon Hafiz, and Khoja Yusuf carried out active educational work in Khujand.

On May 24, 1866, the city was occupied by the Russian army and became part of the Russian Empire. The entry into the empire of the center of a densely populated district with rich economic resources, the most important road junction between the Fergana Valley, the Tashkent oasis and the Zeravshan Valley, a large trading point, opened up new opportunities for the development of Khujand. In July 1916, Khujand was the first among the cities of Central Asia to openly oppose the colonial policy of tsarism, which tried to attract Tajiks, along with other peoples of the region, to participate in the First World War (Central Asian uprising of 1916).

At the beginning of 1918, Soviet power was established in the city; on October 2, 1929, it was included in the Tajik SSR. During the years of Soviet construction, the city, which now bore the name Leninabad, experienced enormous changes in all areas of economic, social and cultural life. In the post-war period, Khujand became the largest industrial and cultural center of Tajikistan after Dushanbe. The city's industry has become diversified, equipped with advanced domestic and foreign technology. The pride of Khujand residents is one of the largest enterprises in the republic - the silk factory. In 1991, dozens of enterprises in Khujand produced the same amount of industrial products per day as in the entire pre-revolutionary Tajikistan in a year. The industrial products of Khujand people were known far beyond the borders of our homeland. Only silk factory fabrics were sent to 450 cities of the USSR and to foreign countries. Since the 60s, Khujand has been actively expanding its borders. The city stepped onto the right bank of the Syr Darya, throwing two bridges across it. During the years of Soviet power, radical changes took place in the field of healthcare. By 1991, there were 40 medical and preventive institutions in Khujand, employing about 2.5 thousand doctors and specialists with higher and secondary medical degrees. education. Major changes have occurred in the field of public education. In 1991, there were 30 schools in Khujand, attended by about 30 thousand students.

In 1932, the Pedagogical Institute was opened in Khujand, where there were only 26 students. Today, more than 10 thousand students study at 13 faculties of this university, which was transformed into Khujand State University in 1991. During the post-war decades, literature and art reached a new peak in Khujand, a whole galaxy of poets and writers, artists and composers, and folk craftsmen grew up. Khujand became more and more beautiful, acquiring the appearance of a large, industrially developed city. In 1986, it celebrated its anniversary - the 2500th anniversary of its foundation. In connection with this Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the city was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

The role and weight of ancient Khujand increased even more during the period of sovereign development of Tajikistan. It was here that the most important step was taken towards ending the fratricidal war and achieving national harmony on Tajik soil: the XVI session of the Supreme Council, held in Khujand in November 1992, restored the constitutional order in the republic and promoted a new leader to the political arena - E. Sh. Rakhmonov .

Khujand lies majestically in the picturesque floodplain of the Syrdarya River at an altitude of more than three hundred meters above sea level. Today Khujand is the largest industrial and cultural center of Northern Tajikistan and the second most important city in the republic. The geographical location and climatic conditions of Khujand are truly beneficial. That is why the Fergana Valley, where it is located, is known as the pearl of Central Asia: the mountain landscape, the ever-flowing waters of the Syr Darya, clean air, green attire, an abundance of grapes, fruits and other gifts of nature make Khujand an eternally young garden city. Khujand is the administrative center of the Sughd region of the Republic of Tajikistan, the second city in the republic in terms of the number of inhabitants and the volume of industrial production. Located in the intermountain passage leading to the Fergana Valley, on the most important caravan trade route of Antiquity. The Syrdarya River flows within the city. From the city center to the railway station - 11 km, to Dushanbe - 341 km. Khujand is connected by railways, air and highways.

Monument to Kamol Khujandi
Installed in 1996 in honor of the 675th anniversary of the poet’s birth. Located on the Stars of Khujand square. The main idea is to convey his image as a thinker, philosopher and show his inner world. The background depicts wings, personifying the holiness of man and at the same time denoting the wings of inspiration of poetry. The poet's face is turned towards the place of his birth and towards the sunset. The height of the seated figure is 3.5 m, the wings are 5.5 m. The area occupied by the monument is 1000 square meters. m. In order to create the image of a strong man, spiritually rich, who has made many trips, the sculpture was deliberately created barefoot, since there are canons of sculpture about the beauty of the human body. Author: artist, sculptor K. N. Nadyrov. A similar monument by the same author was erected in 1997 in Tabriz at the poet’s burial site.

Khujand fortress
An integral part of the city's fortification system. Founded in the VI-V centuries. BC e. According to data obtained by the North Tajik Archaeological Complex Expedition (STAKE), the Khujand fortress was first surrounded by a rampart, and later by a wall of considerable thickness made of adobe. The city and the citadel - components of ancient Khujand, had separate fortress walls, surrounded by a wide and deep ditch filled with water. The remains of these fortifications were discovered under the central part of the left bank of Khujand and surround the territory of the ancient city with an area of ​​20 hectares.

With the development of the economy, trade, government system and population, the city grows. In the VI-VII centuries a new fortress was built. Medieval Khujand consisted of three main parts: the citadel, Shakhristan and Rabad. The citadel was located on the banks of the Syr Darya at the gates of Rabad. The medieval Khujand fortress was considered one of the most fortified in Central Asia.

During the invasion of Genghis Khan (1219-1220), a 25,000-strong army with 50,000 Central Asian captives was sent to besiege the city. The heroic defense of the Khujand fortress and the island located near it on the Syr Darya under the leadership of Timurmalik constitutes one of the brightest pages in the history of the liberation struggle of the Tajik people. As a result of the Mongol invasion, the Khujand fortress was destroyed. According to historian Khofiz Abru, at the beginning of the 15th century the fortress lay in ruins. According to Zakhiriddin Babur, already at the end of the 15th century the fortress was restored and became the residence of the local ruler.

Masjidi Jami Mosque
Sheikh Muslihiddin complex, a monument of folk architecture of the 16th century. Located on the western side of Panjshanbe Square. The facade of the building faces the street. Shark. The mosque was built in 1512-1513. The multi-columned (30 columns) iwan adjoins the eastern wall of the winter hall, also multi-columned (20 columns), and enters the courtyard of the mosque. The long southern wall of the mosque without any openings faces Sharq Street. Just to the right, on the edge of the wall, there is a darvoza-khona entrance device with a deep peshtak - a portal. The arrangement of columns in the mosque is subject to a modular grid: six rows of four columns (30 modular squares) are repeated on the ivan, and five rows of four columns are repeated in the winter room. The two middle columns on the northern facade of the ivan are decorated with carvings to the full height and carry an elevated part of the architrave with massive inlaid stalactites that preserve the remains of painting. At the entrance and above the mihrab, three plank squares of the ceiling are painted, but the paints have darkened greatly and some have crumbled. The walls are covered with good carved decoration, mostly geometric motifs. Both doors of the winter hall are distinguished by fine, elegant carvings. Structurally, the building is frame with adobe filling and subsequent plastering with ganch mortar. The spaces between the frame were used to create niches for the entrance and mihrab both in the winter hall and on the ivan. The roof of the mosque is flat earthen with clay and adobe coating. The foundation on which the walls of the building stand is made of burnt brick. The courtyard of the mosque from the east and partly to the north is limited by one-story hudjras. In the north-eastern part of the courtyard there is a minaret with a traditional lantern, decorated with arched openings, from where a beautiful panorama of the city opens up. Entrance portal facing the street. Shark is distinguished by tiled cladding and carved ganch panels on the façade. The high portal represents only a front decorative wall made of baked brick, complemented on the north side by two-story adobe buildings with a wooden ivan on top. The carved gates of the portal were made in 1513-1514. Mullah Mansur (painting), Usto Shamsidtsin (ganch carving) and others took part in the decorative decoration of the mosque. The mosque, in general, has a surprisingly harmonious image and is an excellent example of the synthesis of decorative art and construction culture of Khujand.

The modern Sughd region of Tajikistan, the administrative center of which is the city of Khujand, until 1991 was called the Leninabad region of Tajikistan, its regional center was called Leninabad.

Geographical position

The position, from the point of view of political geography, occupied by the Leninabad region (Tajikistan) is assessed as favorable, despite the fact that the region has no access to the sea. Nevertheless, it was its geographical location that contributed to the development and prosperity of Khujand. It is the only city that is located on the banks of the largest river in Central Asia - the Syrdarya - and was located at the intersection of the Great Silk Road. This contributed to the development of trade relations with developed countries of the East and West in the old days.

The Leninabad region (Sogdian) is surrounded by the Tien Shan and Gissar-Altai mountains. From the north are the Kuraminsky ridge and the Mogoltau mountains, from the south are the Turkestan ridge and the Zeravshan mountains. It borders with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Between the Kuramin and Turkestan ranges is the western region of the Fergana Valley, on which the region is located.

Two rivers flow through its territory. The largest in Central Asia are the Syr Darya and Zeravshan, which originates from a mountain glacier bearing the same name. Both the Zeravshan and its tributaries are well powered by melting glaciers and have large reserves of hydropower. Used for irrigation of lowland lands.

History of Khujand

Khujand has been the center of civilization for thousands of years. The location of the city contributed to its rapid development and prosperity. The same age as ancient cities such as Samarkand, Khiva, Bukhara, it made its important contribution to the development of this region of Central Asia.

The Great Silk Road passed through it. Khujand merchants, returning from distant countries, brought not only overseas goods, but also knowledge. The city flourished; the main occupation of the residents of the surrounding settlements was agriculture and cattle breeding. Crafts developed there. Trade occupied a special place.

A rich eastern city, it was repeatedly attacked by invaders who dreamed of conquering and plundering it. But history has preserved evidence of the conquest of the region by the troops of Alexander the Great, who preserved the city and contributed to its development. It received a new name Alexandria Eskhata (Extreme).

The invasion of the Mongol-Tatars completely wiped it off the face of the Earth. But the city was restored again. This was facilitated by its favorable location.

As part of the Russian Empire

Centuries passed, the city gradually stopped developing and began to play an insignificant, provincial role in the life of Central Asia. The leading positions were occupied by Samarkand, Bukhara, and Kokand. The population worked in agriculture, and only a small part worked in crafts, in particular weaving silk fabrics.

In 1866, the city of Khujand was conquered by the Russian army and included in the construction of the railway, which breathed new life into it. It became the center of the intersection of roads connecting the Fergana, Zeravshan valleys and the Tashkent oasis.

Railway workers and engineers were sent to the city to build and maintain railway stations. Doctors and teachers came with them. A school and hospital were opened. Small handicraft industrial enterprises appeared. This was facilitated by natural resources, in particular oil and non-ferrous metals.

As part of the USSR

Despite the significant development of the city, it remained a backward outskirts of the Russian Empire with small handicraft enterprises, mainly weaving. The Leninabad region reached its greatest prosperity as part of the USSR. New enterprises began to be built and old ones were reconstructed. Qualified personnel came to the region: engineers, workers, doctors, teachers, scientists who studied natural resources. Schools, hospitals, and vocational educational institutions were opened to train new personnel, including from the local population.

The city of Khujand was renamed Leninabad. It became the administrative center; the district included 8 cities with developed infrastructure and industry. Coal, oil, zinc, lead, tungsten, molybdenum, antimony and mercury began to be mined in the region. The largest mining and processing enterprises were built. A large silk fabric factory was built in Leninabad.

More than a third of the republic’s total industrial output came from the Leninabad region. The Tajik SSR, in her person, received an industrial and economic flagship.

Cities of Leninabad (Sogd) region

Thanks to the settlements located on its territory, the Leninabad region occupied a leading position. The cities that were part of it had large industrial enterprises, some of which were unique.

In total, the region included 8 cities, including Leninabad. Many of them have an ancient history and played a significant role in previous years. Most of the cities formed the industrial backbone of the Leninabad region:

• Istaravshan (Ura-Tube). It is located in the foothills of the Turkestan Range, 78 kilometers from the regional center. 63 thousand people live in it.
• The city of Isfara is located in the foothills of the Turkestan Range on the Isfara River. 43 thousand people live.
• Kairakum (Khojent). Located on the territory of the Karakum reservoir. 43 thousand people live.
• The city of Penjikent is located on the Zarafshan River, at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. Population 36.5 thousand people.

Khujand city

Leninabad, modern Khujand, one of the most beautiful cities in the Fergana Valley. Framed by mountain spurs, bathed in sun, surrounded by gardens and flowers, it is a real oasis. The Syr Darya and the Karakum reservoir make its climate mild, and the southern heat is easily tolerated. The mountains protect it from the hot desert winds in summer and from the cold winds in winter.

The city of Leninabad and the Leninabad region occupied one of the leading positions in the economy of the Tajik SSR, which contributed to their prosperity. The city's infrastructure developed. New residential areas, schools, hospitals, kindergartens, cultural palaces, and sports facilities were built. A pedagogical institute, many technical schools and colleges were opened in the city. To improve transport supply, trolleybus lines were built.

Much attention was paid to architectural monuments, restoration work was carried out. Archaeological excavations were carried out in the vicinity of the city. A local history museum and a musical comedy theater have been opened. The Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR was founded.

Leninabad became the industrial center of Central Asia. A large number of large enterprises operated: a silk fabric factory, a grenage plant, a cotton ginning plant, a glass container plant, an electrical plant, a dairy and canning plant, and much more.

Taboshar city

On the territory of the region there is a small cozy town of Taboshar. The Leninabad region (Tajikistan) has several such towns and villages that were of important strategic importance for the USSR. Near Taboshar there are rich deposits of polymetallic ores, containing mainly zinc and lead; along the way, silver, gold, copper, bismuth and a number of other metals were extracted from them.

Nearby there is a “tailings dump” - the burial of ore processing waste. Uranium was mined here for more than 20 years, which was processed in neighboring Chkalovsk. The Zvezda Vostoka plant operated in the city since 1968, producing parts and engines for strategic missiles. Now they are mothballed, since with the collapse of the USSR most of the residents moved to Russia and other countries. The city was home to deported citizens from Western Ukraine, the Baltic states and

The town today has only 13.5 thousand residents, most of whom are unemployed. Once upon a time it was a crowded, cozy and beautiful town with blackberry bushes, flowers in the front gardens, and in the spring the city was buried in the haze of blooming apricots, over which butterflies and dragonflies circled.

City of Chkalovsk

The Leninabad Mining and Chemical Combine, built in 1946, gave birth to a city called “Chkalovsk”. The Leninabad region received another city in its composition. Today about 21 thousand people live here. After the collapse of the USSR, about 80% of its former residents left the settlement.

The plant gave rise not only to the city, but also to the first nuclear reactor and the first Soviet atomic bomb, the filling of which was obtained at the plant. Raw materials came from all deposits of Central Asia and the Fergana Valley, of which there were many.

On the site of the city, a cozy village was built in which builders and plant workers lived. With its development, the village also grew, which was awarded city status in 1956. Chkalovsk had the best schools, kindergartens, clinics, cinemas and even two theaters.

Immersed in greenery and flowers, with developed infrastructure - this is how the city was remembered by its residents who left it. The condition of the current Buston, as it received such a name in our time, leaves much to be desired. Once-powerful enterprises do not work, houses do not always have water, and electricity is often cut off, forcing the remaining residents to leave their place of residence.

Districts of Leninabad region

The geographical location of the Leninabad region, and Zarafshan and the Karakum reservoir created favorable conditions for farming. Throughout the region there are gardens and fields where a large number of vegetables are grown. Back in Soviet times, factories for processing fruits and vegetables were built here. There are 14 agricultural districts in the region. Below is a list of districts and number of residents (thousands of people):

• Aininsky - 76.9;
• Ashtsky - 151.6;
• Bobo-Gafurovsky - 347.4;
• Devashtic - 154.3;
• Gorno-Matchinsky - 22.8;
• Jabbar-Rasulovsky - 125.0;
• Zafarabadsky - 67.4;
• Istaravshansky - 185.6;
• Isfara - 204.5;
• Kanibadamsky - 146.3;
• Matchinsky - 113.4;
• Penjikent - 231.2;
• Spitamensky - 128.7;
• Shakhristan - 38.5.

The leading position in the processing of livestock products in the republic was occupied by the Leninabad region, the regions of which were engaged in the production of milk and meat - this is the main orientation of livestock farming. In the foothills they breed goats and sheep. Much attention is paid to cotton cultivation.

Khojent district

The renaming did not spare the largest, Khojent district. The Leninabad region became the Sogd region, the city of Leninabad is called Khujand, the Khojent district was named Bobo-Gafurovsky. Its administrative center is the village of Gafurov.

The region is located in the Fergana Valley and is the most developed and largest agricultural region in the Leninabad (Sughd) region. In the north, its border passes with the Tashkent region, in the south - with Kyrgyzstan. The area is home to a large cotton gin and small food processing plants.

The area is adjacent to the regional center, therefore it is focused on agricultural production. It supplies the residents of Khujand with vegetables and fruits, of which there are large quantities in the region, as well as milk and meat.