E. A. Abdalina, R. J. Hoshimova

Answer the following questions after reading the texts given below.

1. 
   Where is Uzbekistan situated?
   
2. 
   What do you know about the climate of Uzbekistan?
   
3. 
   Can you say that the climate of Uzbekistan is sharp continental?
   
4. 
   What rivers of Uzbekistan do you know?
   
5. 
   Is Uzbekistan rich in mineral resources?
   
6. 
   What unfavourable natural factors do you know which influence the appearance and aggravation of ecologic problems in Uzbekistan?
   
7. 
   What types of raw minerals in Uzbekistan do you know?
   

THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN

The Republic of Uzbekistan is one of the cradles of civilization. Located in the heart of the ancient Silk Route, it is a unique bridge connecting the great civilizations of the East and West.

Geographical position. Uzbekistan is situated in the heart of hearts of the Eurasian Continent Between the Amu-Darya and the Syr-Darya.
The total area of the Republic is 447,8 thousand square km. It can be compared with the area of such European countries as Great Britain, Belgium, Denmark, Austria taken together. The Republic stretches from West to East to 1,425 km, from North to South — 930 km.
The total length of the state borderline is 6,221 km.
The territory of Uzbekistan is a certain combination of valley and mountain surface.
The highest point of Uzbekistan is 4,643 m above sea level.
As for natural-geographic conditions Uzbekistan is a pretty favorable country.
The total area of national parks is 1 mln hectare. Forest takes up the area of 1,6 mln hectare.
Caves in the South and North of the Republic are of great interest.
Flora of Uzbekistan includes 3,700 kinds of wild plants belonging to 120 families (out of them 9% can be seen only in Uzbekistan).
Fauna of Uzbekistan is presented by 97 types of mammals, more than 400 kinds of birds, 69 types offish, 2 types of amphibians and 58 types of reptiles (several types of them can be seen only in this region).