Jizzakh region

Jizzakh region lies in the south-west of the Mirzachul economic region. Much of its territory is a plain sloping northwards, irrigated from the Sangzor River and the South Mirzachul Canal. On the northern slope of the Turkestan Range the Zomin mountain-forest reserve and a national nature park have been set up; mountain plants and animals are studied there and sanatoriums have been built. For treatment, healing water near Gallaorol and mud from Lake Balikchi can be used. Among minerals, polymetallic ore comes from Uchquloch, gold from Marjonbulak, tungsten-molybdenum from the north of the Nurata Mountains, and marble from several deposits; the ore is raw material for the alloys combine at Chirchiq. The region has no large fuel deposits: gas comes from other regions and electricity mainly from the Syrdarya power station through the common grid; new energy projects have also started here in recent years. Industry includes light, food, building materials, chemicals and machine building, and mining enterprises. Agriculture rests on cotton and grain; by grain area the region is among the leaders in the country, pasture livestock and poultry are developed, and a farm breeds the Karabair horse. The regional centre, the city of Jizzakh, lies on the Sangzor, near the Tashkent–Samarkand railway and the Great Uzbek Highway.