Geography of transport

By carrying passengers and cargo, transport deepens the geographic division of labour both within the country and worldwide, and it ensures links between industry and agriculture, exchange of products between regions and foreign trade. In the country, cargo and passengers travel by rail and road, by river and by air; oil and gas are sent through pipelines, and electricity is “carried” along transmission lines. To reach its destination, cargo or passengers often use two or three kinds of transport; together they form the transport complex. Rail works regardless of climate and season, is fast, and its cost is comparatively low. Trucks deliver cargo straight to the consumer and are convenient on short and medium distances, especially in mountains. Pipelines move gas and oil cheaply and continuously. Water transport carries huge loads cheaply but slowly; because Uzbekistan has no sea outlet its importance is small and it is mostly on the Amudarya. Air transport is the fastest and most expensive and depends little on relief; it suits urgent passengers and valuable cargo. Transport work is measured in tonne-kilometres: the mass of cargo is multiplied by the distance. Transport itself uses much electricity, fuel and metal.