Shohimardon
Shohimardon (also Shakhimardan, Uzbek: Shohimardon / Шоҳимардон, Russian: Шахимардан, romanized: Shakhimardan) is a village and a subdivision (rural community) of Fergana District, Fergana Region in eastern Uzbekistan. It is an exclave of Uzbekistan, surrounded by Kyrgyzstan, in a valley in the Pamir-Alay mountains. The name means ‘King of Men’ in Persian. The river Shohimardonsoy flows through the exclave. There are two villages: Shohimardon and Yordon.
Shohimardon
Шоҳимардон | |
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Rural community | |
Shohimardon in 1871 | |
Nickname: The Switzerland of Ferghana valley | |
Shohimardon Location within Uzbekistan Shohimardon Location within Asia | |
Coordinates: 39°59′N 71°48′E | |
Country | Uzbekistan |
Region | Fergana Region |
District | Fergana District |
Villages | Shohimardon, Yardan |
Area | |
• Total | 90 km2 (30 sq mi) |
Highest elevation (Peak Almalik) | 2,841 m (9,321 ft) |
Lowest elevation (Shohimardonsoy valley) | 1,290 m (4,230 ft) |
Population (2002) | |
• Total | 10,100 |
• Density | 110/km2 (290/sq mi) |
Demonym | Shohimardonian |
Time zone | UTC+5 |
Uzbekistan Postal code | 150418 |
Area code | +998 |
ISO 3166 code | UZ |
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Shohimardon is a popular resort with several sanatoriums, and an active place of pilgrimage. According to one folk legend, the Caliph Ali was buried in Shohimardon.
Shakhimardan City Resort is situated at 1975m above sea level, 155 km from Ferghana, in the picturesque mountainous district. The Kuliqurbon or Blue Lake is seven kilometers southeast of Shakhimardan. It was formed in 1766 after a series of extreme earthquakes. The lake is located at an altitude of 1,724 metres. It's 170 m long, 60 m tall, 5–10 m deep. The cableway continues to the lake for two kilometres.
The Uzbek poet Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi lived and worked in Shohimardon until he was stoned to death there in 1929.