Editing Geography of Uzbekistan (section)

==Topography and drainage==
[[Image:Uzbekistan Topography.png|thumb|right|Topography of Uzbekistan]]
The physical environment of Uzbekistan is diverse, ranging from the flat, desert topography that comprises almost 80% of the country's territory to mountain peaks in the east reaching about {{convert|4,500|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref name=":0" /> The southeastern portion of Uzbekistan is characterized by the foothills of the [[Tian Shan]] mountains, which rise higher in neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and form a natural border between Central Asia and China.<ref name=":0" /> The vast [[Kyzyl Kum|Qizilqum]] (Turkic for "red sand"—Russian spelling [[Kyzyl Kum]]) Desert, shared with southern [[Kazakhstan]], dominates the northern lowland portion of Uzbekistan.<ref name=":0" /> The most fertile part of Uzbekistan, the [[Fergana Valley]], is an area of about {{convert|21,440|km2|mi2}} directly east of the Qizilqum and surrounded by mountain ranges to the north, south, and east.<ref name=":0" /> The western end of the valley is defined by the course of the [[Syr Darya]], which runs across the northeastern sector of Uzbekistan from southern Kazakhstan into the Qizilqum.<ref name=":0" /> Although the Fergana Valley receives just {{convert|100|to|300|mm|in}} of rainfall per year, only small patches of desert remain in the center and along ridges on the periphery of the valley.<ref name=":0" />

Water resources, which are unevenly distributed, are in short supply in most of Uzbekistan.<ref name=":0" /> The vast plains that occupy two-thirds of Uzbekistan's territory have little water, and there are few lakes.<ref name=":0" /> The two largest rivers feeding Uzbekistan are the [[Amu Darya]] and the [[Syr Darya]], which originate in the mountains of [[Tajikistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]], respectively.<ref name=":0" /> These rivers form the two main river basins of [[Central Asia]]; they are used primarily for irrigation, and several artificial canals have been built to expand the supply of arable land in the [[Fergana Valley]] and elsewhere.<ref name=":0" /> During the Soviet Era, a plan was devised in which Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan provided water from these two rivers to [[Kazakhstan]], [[Turkmenistan]], and [[Uzbekistan]] in summer, and these three countries provided Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan with oil and gas during the winter in return.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} However, this system dissolved after the collapse of the [[USSR]], and a new resource-sharing plan has yet to be put in place.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} According to the [[International Crisis Group]], this situation could lead to irreparable regional destabilization if it is not resolved.<ref>International Crisis Group. "[http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/europe/central-asia/233-water-pressures-in-central-asia.pdf Water Pressures in Central Asia]", [http://www.crisisgroup.org CrisisGroup.org]. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.</ref> A shallow lake, [[Sarygamysh Lake]], sits on the border with Turkmenistan.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Another important feature of Uzbekistan's physical environment is the significant seismic activity that dominates much of the country.<ref name=":0" /> Indeed, much of Uzbekistan's capital city, [[Tashkent]], was destroyed in a major [[1966 Tashkent earthquake|earthquake in 1966]], and other earthquakes have caused significant damage before and since the Tashkent disaster.<ref name=":0" /> The mountain areas are especially prone to earthquakes.<ref name=":0" />