Uzbekistan

Central Asia · Silk Road · doubly landlocked · Turkic culture

Doubly landlocked marvel. Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, meaning you'd have to cross through at least two other countries to reach any ocean. The other doubly landlocked country is tiny Liechtenstein in Europe.

Central Asia's giant. With more than 39 million people, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia. The Uzbek people make up more than 89 percent of the population and speak Uzbek, the official language.

Ancient Silk Road cities. Uzbekistan is home to legendary cities like Samarkand and Bukhara, which were once major trading centers on the Silk Road. These cities have stunning architecture and a history thousands of years old.

Languages of the region. While Uzbek is the official language, Russian is also widely spoken and acts as a common language that helps different groups communicate. Tajik is spoken by people in southern cities like Samarkand and Bukhara.

Surrounded by neighbors. Uzbekistan is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Being in the heart of Central Asia makes it a crossroads of cultures and history.