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
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
RegionFergana Region
DistrictFergana District
VillagesShohimardon, Yardan
Area
  Total90 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)
  Total10,100
  Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
DemonymShohimardonian
Time zoneUTC+5
Uzbekistan Postal code
150418
Area code+998
ISO 3166 codeUZ
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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.

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