Jizzakh Province: Lakes, Nature and Culture

Zaamin National Nature Park lies on the northern slope of the Turkestan Range in the Zaamin and Baxmal districts. Lake Tuzkan is in Forish District and is part of the Aydar-Arnasay lake system. The province’s history and culture include, among other things, a 14th-century mausoleum, an 11th-century shrine and a madrasa dating from 1903.

Zaamin National Nature Park combines mountain scenery with a diverse range of wildlife. It is home to more than 30 mammal species and more than 102 bird species. Three mammal species and twelve bird species are listed in Uzbekistan’s Red Book. For those interested in nature and conservation, this offers a specific reason to make Zaamin a focus of their trip.

Boboyongok is one of the national park’s ecotourism destinations. In the Suffa area, an official travel program includes exploring ecotourism routes. The Zaamin tourist and recreational zone also features striking structures: its cable car is 2,102 meters long, while the suspension bridge is 305 meters long and 150 meters high. These details describe different experiences within the Zaamin offering, without specifying a particular route between them.

Another natural attraction in the province is the Nurata Nature Reserve in the central part of the Nurata Range. It was established in the 1970s to protect the Severtsev sheep. Lake Fazilman is one of the popular sights in this mountain range. Travelers who prefer to plan their trip around mountain nature rather than cultural sites can consider these places as a separate thematic selection.

Lake Tuzkan is in Forish District and is part of the Aydar-Arnasay lake system. The Aydar-Arnasay lakes extend across the Jizzakh and Navoi regions and are included on the Ramsar Convention’s list of wetlands. Lake Tuzkan is suitable for family beach holidays as well as stays with friends around a campfire. It offers a different kind of trip from the mountain areas and historic sites.

Fishing is available at Lake Tuzkan. Its brackish waters are home to, among other species, zander, catfish, carp and snakehead fish. At the East Arnasay lakes, reeds, Turanga poplars, cattails and tamarisks provide habitats for migratory birds, including herons, spoonbills and ducks. Those interested in lakes, wetlands and birdlife can take these aspects into account when choosing a regional focus.

The Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqas historical complex is in the village of Avliyo-Ota in G‘allaorol District. The shrine’s mosque was built in the 19th century and features an oriental style. The 14th-century Sultan Khalil Mausoleum is also in G‘allaorol District. The Mullabuloq shrine dates back to the 11th century; its spring waters, believed to have healing properties, attract many pilgrims.

Natural monuments and religious traditions are also part of the region’s cultural character. The Oriental Biota of Majrum is a thousand-year-old natural monument that local people have revered since ancient times as sacred and majestic. In the village of Uvol in Zaamin District, the Parpi-Oyim complex is associated with a pilgrimage ritual: women pass three times through a narrow opening in the Teshiktosh stone block, believing they will soon become mothers. Khoja Nuriddin Madrasa in the Havaslik mahalla was built in 1903.

Lake Tuzkan is in Forish District; Zaamin Nature Park spans Zaamin and Baxmal. Find information about the subregions at Forish District and Yangikishlak.

If you’d like to compare different regions in the travel offering, you can also find Surxondaryo Province, Tashkent, Andijan Province, Samarkand Province, Ferghana Province and Qashqadaryo Province.

Where is Lake Tuzkan?

Lake Tuzkan is in Forish District, Jizzakh Province, and is part of the Aydar-Arnasay lake system.

What nature destinations are there in Jizzakh Province?

These include Zaamin National Nature Park, Nurata Nature Reserve, Lake Fazilman and Peshagor Cave. Peshagor is part of a natural complex of four caves; artifacts and traces of human life found there indicate prehistoric habitation. Trips and excursions to the cave are organized.

What activity is available at Lake Tuzkan?

Fishing is available at Lake Tuzkan. Its brackish waters are home to, among other species, zander, catfish, carp and snakehead fish.

What is Jizzakh samsa?

Jizzakh samsa is a popular regional dish and a symbol of the province. Its filling consists of large pieces of meat, onions and lamb fat.

For the main travel overview: Uzbekistan.