Probable Greek soldier in the Sampul tapestry, woollen wall hanging, 3rd-2nd century BC, Sampul, Urumqi Xinjiang Museum. Anticlines associated with these faults form traps for petroleum and natural gas, which has been discovered in 52 small fields. The faults are upthrusts and overthrusts. Some of the sediments are marine carbonates and clays. The central part of the geological depression that forms the valley is characterized by block subsidence, originally to depths estimated at 6 to 7 kilometres (3.7 to 4.3 mi), largely filled with sediments that range in age as far back as the Permian-Triassic boundary.

This expanse of quicksand, covering an area of 1,900 km 2 (750 sq mi), under the influence of south-west winds, encroaches upon the agricultural districts. The streams, and their numerous mountain effluents, not only supply water for irrigation, but also bring down vast quantities of sand, which is deposited alongside their courses, more especially alongside the Syr Darya where it cuts its way through the Khujand- Ajar ridge and forms the valley. Numerous other tributaries of these rivers exist in the valley including the Sokh River. The valley owes its fertility to two rivers, the Naryn and the Kara Darya, which unite in the valley, near Namangan, to form the Syr Darya. Its position makes it a separate geographic zone. The valley is approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) long and up to 70 kilometres (43 mi) wide, forming an area covering 22,000 square kilometres (8,500 sq mi). The Fergana Valley is an intermountain depression in Central Asia, between the mountain systems of the Tien Shan in the north and the Alay in the south.

simplified Chinese: 费尔干纳盆地 traditional Chinese: 費爾幹納盆地 pinyin: Fèi ěr gàn nà péndìįergana Valley on map showing Sakastan about 100BC.

Tajik: Водии Фарғона, romanized: Vodiyi Farghona.

It is alternatively spelled as Farghana or Ferghana. There is a long history of stock breeding, leatherwork and a growing mining sector, including deposits of coal, iron, sulfur, gypsum, rock-salt, naphtha and some small known oil reserves. Mass cotton cultivation, introduced by the Soviets, remains central to the economy, along with a wide range of grains, fruits and vegetables. Historically there have also been substantial numbers of Russian, Kashgarian, Kipchak, Bukharan Jewish and Romani minorities.

The area largely remains Muslim, populated by ethnic Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz people, often intermixed and not matching modern borders. Its three Soviet republics gained independence in 1991. The Russian Empire conquered the valley at the end of the 19th century, and it became part of the Soviet Union in the 1920s. It was home to Babur, founder of the Mughal dynasty, tying the region to modern Afghanistan and South Asia. The valley's history stretches back over 2,300 years, when Alexander the Great founded Alexandria Eschate at its southwestern end.Ĭhinese chroniclers date its towns to more than 2,100 years ago, as a path between Greek, Chinese, Bactrian and Parthian civilisations. A large triangular valley in what is an often dry part of Central Asia, the Fergana owes its fertility to two rivers, the Naryn and the Kara Darya, which run from the east, joining near Namangan, forming the Syr Darya river. The Fergana Valley ( Kyrgyz: Фергана өрөөнү, romanized: Fergana öröönü Uzbek: Фарғона водийси/Farg'ona vodiysi Tajik: водии Фарғона, Vodii Farg'ona) in Central Asia lies mainly in eastern Uzbekistan, but also extends into southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan.ĭivided into three republics of the former Soviet Union, the valley is ethnically diverse and in the early 21st century was the scene of conflict.

Path of exile expedition