It was formed on December 23, 1970 (from October 27, 1939 to March 28, 1962 it was also a region). Located in the north of the republic. The area is 26.1 thousand km2. The population is over 2 million people. Mostly Tajiks live, as well as Uzbeks, Russians, and Kyrgyz. The average population density per 1 km2 is 46 people. It is divided into 14 districts: Aininsky, Ashtsky, Ganchinsky, Zafarabadsky, Isfarinsky, Kanibadamsky, Matchinsky, Gorny Matchinsky, Spitamensky, Penjikentsky, Jabbor Rasulovsky, Ura-Tubinsky, Babajan Gafurovsky, Shahristansky. It has 5 cities: Khujand, Kanibadam, Isfara, Istaravshan Gafurov. The administrative center is Khujand. The territory of the region is mostly mountainous. In the north, there are the Kuraminsky Ranges (height up to 3768m) and Mount Mugul, height up to 1624m. In the south, Turkestan heights up to 5509 m, Zeravshan heights up to 5489 m, Hissar ranges are their northern slopes. The western part of the Ferghana Valley is located between the Kuraminsky and Turkistan Ranges. The Zerafshan valley separates the Turkistan and Zerafshan ranges. The Sogd region is rich from the bowels of the earth: coal, brown coal, oil, ozocerite, copper and polymetals, bismuth, iron, fluorite, phosphorite, salt, molybdenum, antimony, mercury, mineral paints, building materials, etc.
In 2000, the Leninabad region of Tajikistan was renamed Sughd. This name is rooted in the depths of epochs. Sogd or Sogdiana - the name of the ancient center of civilization, a powerful state in North Asia, which included the territory of the region.
Tourism potential of the region
In this regard, there are opportunities for mountain hikes and interesting excursions in the region. On the one hand, the slopes of the Turkestan Range, the Mogoltau Mountains and other nearby mountains are mostly dry, without forests, and are clearly inferior in terms of picturesqueness and attractiveness to the already described Fann Mountains.
Tajik Sea. This is the name of the Kairakkum reservoir, located east of Khujand. You can get to the reservoir from Khujand by bus. In 1956-1957, a dam and a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 126 megawatts were built on the Syrdarya River. People of many nationalities took part in the construction on the Syr Darya, so the Kairakkum hydroelectric power station was called "Friendship of Peoples".
Later, the team of hydraulic builders received a new task: to build a large carpet factory. The place for construction was not chosen by chance. In the Sughd region, as in other regions of Tajikistan, due to the high birth rate, there is an excess of workers. And the need for carpets is huge. In 1960, on the site of a desert area ("Kairakkum" means "stony desert"), a settlement arose (a city since 1963) and was more on the first stage of the carpet factory.
The platinum was stopped by the Syr Darya, a reservoir was formed (area 513 square kilometers, length 55 km, maximum width 20 km). The artificial sea is of great importance for the irrigation of drylands. Pumps raise water to a height of up to 300 meters, then it is sent by gravity to cotton fields, orchards and vineyards.
The Tajik Sea has also become a wonderful place for recreation for residents and guests of the Sughd region. On its shores, sanatoriums, rest houses, the tourist center "Tajik Sea" appeared. Four camp sites made of glass and concrete and summer houses are located in an orchard on a high, steep shore of an artificial sea.
One of the oldest Central Asia, Ura-Tube (now Istaravshan) is located 73 km from Khujand. Academician A.P. Okladnikov found a slate plate in the Ukraine of Ura-Tyube, which turned out to be a tool of primitive man: people lived here in the Old Stone Age, 100 thousand years ago. It is reliably established that the city existed already in the VI century BC. It repeatedly changed its name: Kurukada or Kiropol, Vagat, Istaravshan. The name Urotep is mentioned for the first time in the memoirs of the ruler of Ferghana, poet, war scientist Zahiredin Muhammad Babur (1483-1530).
Monuments of the Stone Age: the canopy of Aktangi (Neolithic-16th century): the settlement of Sarazm, the Bronze Age; settlements of Nurtepa (7th century BC-8th century AD) ancient Khujand (6th century BC), here Alexander the Great built the Alexandria Extreme fortress; ancient Penjikent, a major cultural center of Sogd (6th-8th centuries); Kalai Kahkaha 1-3 years. Bunjikat, the capital of Ustrushana; castles on Mount Mug (6th-8th centuries), Filmandar (5th century), Chilhujra (5th-7th centuries); the settlement of Gardani Hisor and Kum (5th-8th centuries); mine Kanimansur (5th-7th centuries).
Historical monuments: the birthplace of Abuabdullo Rudaki (858-941), the founder of Tajik classical literature (panjrud village); Kamol Khujandi, known for this (d. 1400), Sodirkhon Hafiz (1941-1931) - the famous folk singer, Toshkhodzha Asiri (1864-1916) - the poet - educator). . Ura-tube).
The architecture of the complex of Sheikh Muslihiddin (14-18 centuries); Kok Gumbaz mosque (15th century), Bobotago mausoleum (19th century); Rustambek madrasah (19th century); mausoleum Muhammad - Bashoro (11-14 centuries); machetes of Khazrati Shokh (10-12th c.), Khoja Yagon (18-19th c.), Dardir (19th c.), Olimdodkho madrasah (17-18th c.), Varzimanor minaret (10th c.), Rudaki Mausoleum, Gumbaz Mirzourunkhon (16th-17th centuries).