Fergana Valley
valley with fertile fields for cotton production
Fergana, city in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southern edge of the Fergana Valley. Fergana is about 420 km (about 260 mi) east of Toshkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and about 75 km (about 45 mi) west of Andijon.
monument since independence
Fergana has been a center for oil production in the Fergana Valley since the region's first oil refinery was built near the city in 1908. Since then more refineries have been added, and Fergana is one of the most important centers of oil production and refining in Uzbekistan.
working with silk thread
preparing the loom warp for ikat weaving
loom for weaving Uzbek designs
the salesman for silk cloth
the samples
Natural gas from western Uzbekistan is transported by pipeline to the valley, where it is used to produce fertilizer. The Fergana Valley was the most important irrigated-cotton region of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Cotton growing and processing has been the dominant economic activity here for centuries, supplied by water from small streams flowing from the surrounding mountains. The Great Fergana Canal, built almost entirely by hand during the 1930s, passes through the northern part of the city.
the potter
painting the color pigments for the ceramics
ceramic pieces
Fergana was founded as a garrison town by the Russians after they captured the khanate of Kokand .
Kokand
palace
entry way
detail of carved column capitals
dome
dinner in a private home
entertainment by the hostess
People at the Margilan Sunday Market
