Archaeologists in this country hope to find all fifty of the “Elliq-Qala,” or “Fifty Forts,” including castles at Guldursun and Toprak. Toxic dust storms cause chronic illnesses in this country’s depopulated city of Moynaq, home to a “cemetery of boats.” Most of the Karakalpak people live in this country around a river delta home to the cities of Nukus and Urgench. This country’s main ethnic group speaks the second most widely-spoken Turkic language, which is closely related to Uighur. The city of Andijan lies in this country’s section of the Ferghana Valley. Before the effects of irrigation for cotton growing, the Amu Darya met the Aral Sea in this country. For 10 points, what most populous country in Central Asia contains cities like Samarkand and Tashkent? ■END■
ANSWER: Uzbekistan [or Republic of Uzbekistan; or O‘zbekiston Respublikasi]
<EC, Geography>
= Average correct buzz position