Termez
Termez
Termiz / Термиз | |
|---|---|
 Sultan Saodat Ensemble | |
| Country |  Uzbekistan |
| Province | Surxondaryo Province |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 140,404 |
Termez (Uzbek: Termiz/Термиз; Russian: Термез; Persian: ترمذ Termez, Tirmiz; Arabic: ترمذ Tirmidh) is a small city in southern Uzbekistan near the Hairatan border crossing of Afghanistan.
Some link the name of the city to Greek thermos "hot", tracing its name back to Alexander the Great.[1] Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit taramato, meaning "on the river bank".[2] It is the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404 (1 January 2005), and is the capital of Surxondaryo Province.
Its most famous native son is Al-Tirmidhi, born in its suburb Bugh and buried 60 kilometers north of Termez, on the outskirts of Sherobod. He is locally known as Iso At Termezi or Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). Hakim-e-Termizi, one of the famous Sufi leaders, is buried in the suburbs of Termez. He is also known as Termez Ota (Father of Termez City). It was once a great center of Buddhism and Islam.
Transportation
The river Amu Darya divides the two countries of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge crosses the river to Hairatan in Afghanistan. Termez is also served by Termez Airport, with flights to Tashkent and Moscow.
History
An ancient settlement was discovered near Termez, which was populated in the times of the Greco-Bactrian rule (3rd - 2nd centuries BC). It was the center of Buddhism at the period of the Kushans (1st-2nd c. AD). With the arrival of the Arabs, in the 7th-8th century, the city became a center of Islam. Said Baraka was from old Termiz. He was a philosopher, war strategist and religious nobleman, and Amir Temur's teacher. Sayed Ali Shah Termezi S/o Sayed Qambar known as " Pir Baba " was born in Termez, (1502-1583 CE), his mosolem is at a village named Pir Baba after him in Buner District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During Amir Temur's time Termez continued to prosper, but it was destroyed at the end of the 17th century. In 1897 the modern city emerged, with a Russian fortress and garrison. Termez was a primary transit point during the Soviet invasion (1979–89) of Afghanistan.
Climate
Termez has an arid climate with extremely hot, long summers and short, cool winters.
| Climate data for Termez | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 23.8 (74.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
34.4 (93.9) |
38.7 (101.7) |
43.6 (110.5) |
46.5 (115.7) |
47.0 (116.6) |
46.3 (115.3) |
41.5 (106.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
32.4 (90.3) |
26.7 (80.1) |
47.0 (116.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.4 (50.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
18.9 (66.0) |
26.6 (79.9) |
32.8 (91.0) |
38.0 (100.4) |
39.7 (103.5) |
38.0 (100.4) |
32.8 (91.0) |
25.8 (78.4) |
18.8 (65.8) |
12.1 (53.8) |
25.60 (78.08) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) |
6.7 (44.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
18.9 (66.0) |
24.6 (76.3) |
29.1 (84.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
28.4 (83.1) |
22.8 (73.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
10.8 (51.4) |
5.6 (42.1) |
17.52 (63.54) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) |
1.7 (35.1) |
6.5 (43.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
16.5 (61.7) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.4 (70.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
13.9 (57.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
4.7 (40.5) |
1.0 (33.8) |
10.43 (50.77) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.7 (−3.5) |
−17.5 (0.5) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
−2 (28) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
9.3 (48.7) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−11 (12) |
−18.4 (−1.1) |
−19.7 (−3.5) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 24 (0.9) |
24 (0.9) |
36 (1.4) |
23 (0.9) |
9 (0.4) |
2 (0.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2 (0.1) |
3 (0.1) |
12 (0.5) |
21 (0.8) |
156 (6.1) |
| Average rainy days | 7 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 60 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 71 | 66 | 57 | 45 | 36 | 36 | 38 | 45 | 53 | 65 | 76 | 55 |
| Source: Погода и Климат [3] | |||||||||||||
Main sights
- Kyrk-Kyz Nunnery (out-of-town Palace Country Estate) (9th - 14th century)
- Palace of Termez rulers (11th-12th century)
- Architectural Complex of Al Hakim At-Termizi (10th - 15th century)
- Architectural Ensemble Sultan Saodat (10th - 18th centuries)
- Kokildora Mausoleum Khanaka (16th century)
- Kara-Tepe Buddhist Monastery (2nd-4th century)
- Fayaz-Tepe Buddhist Monastery (1st-3rd century)
- Zurmala Tower (1st-2nd century AD)
- Iso At-Tirmidhi Mausoleum (9th c. AD), in the suburb of Sherobod, 60 kilometers north of Termez.
Wars
For many years after the Second World War the 108th Motor Rifle Division, the former 360th Rifle Division, was based in the town.
During the war in Afghanistan (1979–89) over 100,000 Soviet troops were based in Termez. The airbase is currently the main support base for German and Dutch forces operating with the ISAF in Afghanistan.
See also
References
- ^ E. M. Pospelov, Geograficheskie nazvaniya mira (Moscow, 1998), p. 415: "here in fact is found the hottest place in Central Asia (in June 1914 a temperature of 49.5 C was recorded in Termez."
- ^ Sh. Kamaliddinov, Istoricheskaya geografiya Sogda i Toharistana.
- ^ КЛИМАТ ТЕРМЕЗА (in Russian)
External links
- Archaeological Museum Termez (Uzbek, Russian, English)
- Travel guide to Termez, history of Termez
- Termez Photos
- History of ancient Termez
- Uzbek Tourism
- Karvon Saroy travel to Uzbekistan
- Travel tips to visit Termez
- local information, guide and interpreter in Termez