Termez is a city in the southernmost part of Uzbekistan near the Hairatan border crossing of Afghanistan. It is the hottest point of Uzbekistan. It has a population of 140,404, and is the capital of Surxondaryo Region.
Etymology
The modern name of the city came through the Sogdian Tarmiδ dating back to Old Iraniantara-maiθa, which means "a place of transition". In ancient times there was an important crossing on the Amu Darya river. Some link the name of the city to Greek thermos "hot", tracing its name back to Alexander the Great. Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit taramato, meaning "on the river bank".
History
In ancient times
The date of the founding of the city of Old Termez, located a few kilometers west of the modern city, is not known. In April 2002 there was a celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the city of Termez. The city was known to Achaemenids in the 6th century BC. In 329 BC Alexander the Great conquered Termez. Later Demetrius, the founder of Greco-Bactrian kingdom named it Demetris. As part of the Kushan Empire The city was called Ta-li-mi in the vicinity of the ancient city.
In January 1893 the emirate of Bukhara gave the land of the village Pattakesar to the Russian government to build a Russian fortress and garrison and a military border fortification, where the Amu Darya river port was built. In 1928 as part of the Soviet Union, Pattakesar was renamed and took the city's ancient name Termez. In 1929, the village became a town. During the years of Soviet rule industrial enterprises were built and a Pedagogical Institute and a theatre were opened. During the Soviet–Afghan War, Termez was an important military base, a military airfield and a road-rail bridge across the Amu Darya were built.
Independent Uzbekistan
In 1992 the Pedagogical Institute was upgraded to Termez State University. The military airfield in Termez is used by the air forces of Germany for transiting goods to Afghanistan. In July 2009 It was decided to establish a "Termez regional railway junction" which will be one of the main places in the planned transit of non-lethal NATO supplies to Afghanistan. The transit will be through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan bypassing Turkmenistan through the railway in 2009 Tashguzar-Boysun-Kumkurgan. In June 2015, the Prime Minister of PakistanNawaz Sharif announced the construction of the Gwadar-Termez Highway, which would connect Uzbekistan via a road network to the Arabian sea at Gwadar Port in Pakistan.
Transportation
The river Amu Darya divides the two countries of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge crosses the river to Hairatan in Afghanistan. Termez is also served by Termez Airport, with flights to Tashkent and Moscow. Termez is connected with Uzbek Railways to other cities of the countries and Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Tashkent-Termez and Termez-Tashkent train runs every day. Also Dushanbe-Kanibadam and Kanibadam-Dushanbe trains passes from Termez.
Demographics
The officially registered population of Termez in 2005 was 140,404. Uzbeks and Tajiks are the largest ethnic groups.
Climate
Termez has a cold desert climate with very hot, long summers and short, cool winters.
Notable people of ancient Termez
Its most famous native son is Al-Tirmidhi, born in its suburb Bugh and buried 60 kilometers north of Termez, on the outskirts of Sherobod, Uzbekistan. He is one of the six canonical hadith collectors of Sunni Islam. He is locally known as Abu Isa At Termezi.
Hakim-at-Termizi, one of the famous Sufi theologians, is buried in old Termez which is in the suburbs of modern Termez. He is also known as Termez Ota.
Zul Kifl Mausoleum in the island Aral-Paygambar on the Amu Darya river. It is not possible to access it at the moment since it is in the military zone and the restricted nature reserve.
