Natural districts and Chirchiq-Ohangaron

The Chirchiq-Ohangaron district lies in the north-east of Uzbekistan between the Syrdarya and the Western Tien Shan. In the north-west it borders Kazakhstan and in the east Kyrgyzstan; the Kurama range separates it from the Fergana Valley and its south-western boundary follows the Syrdarya. The district includes part of the Western Tien Shan, the Chirchiq and Ohangaron valleys and the Dalverzin desert. The surface falls from the north-east towards the Syrdarya. The mountains (Ugam, Pskem, Chatkal, Kurama, Karzhantau) were folded and raised in the Paleozoic and later worn down; new tectonic movements still continue, so earthquakes occur. The highest peaks are Beshtor (Pskem) 4299 m, Sayram (Ugam) 4236 m, Baboiob (Kurama) 3769 m and Greater Chimgan 3309 m. A road and railway run to the Fergana Valley through the Kamchik pass (2267 m). The district is rich in copper, gold, tungsten and lead ores, alunite (aluminium raw material) and kaolin (porcelain raw material).