If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
While being Mediterranean-like along the Black Sea coast, the Republic of Georgia is actually mostly mountainous terrain. Peaks rising more than 5,200 meters (17,000ft.) separate it from the Caucasus and from Russia. Turkey, Armenian, and Azerbaijan border Georgia [...]

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
No Comments »

In 1966 Tashkent, Uzbekistan was destroyed by a large earthquake (7.5 on the Richter scale). Over 300,000 people were left homeless, but the rebuilding efforts were very successful. The modern city of Tashkent is the only one possessing a subway system in Central Asia.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
1 Comment »

The Ferghana Valley is 300 kilometers long. It contains thousands of cotton fields and is the center of silk production in Central Asia. Millions of agricultural workers, including some as young as 8 years of age, “volunteer” to plant, chop, and pick cotton for small wages.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
No Comments »

Uzbekistan has been under the grip of darkness for centuries. Folk Islam, drug use, alcoholism and a growing problem with HIV/Aids pervade society. The economy is struggling, with a very high rate of unemployment.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
2 Comments »

A Turkmen national, after visiting a nation which is influenced by Christian values, has said, “Now I know what freedom really is”. Let us continue to pray that the Spirit of Christ will set more people free in Turkmenistan.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
No Comments »

In the last 15 years there has been a significant surge of Islam in Tatarstan, though the majority of the Tatar population remains nominally or culturally Muslim. In 1990 there were about 100 mosques in the entire Republic, and by 2004 there were over 1000.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
No Comments »

The Tajiks are descendants from the Persians and are closely linked with the neighbouring Uzbeks. Tajikistan is a landlocked, mountainous country with more than half of the land area above 3,000 metres with frequent strong earthquakes.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
No Comments »

Following the Mongol rule in the 13th century, Kyrgyzstan came under Russian rule in the 1800s and after 1937 was called the Kyrgyz Soviet Republic. Agriculture was increasingly collectivised under Stalin, despite strong resistance from the nomadic Kyrgyz.

Filed under: Asia, Central by TDI
3 Comments »