Tossup

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 (10[1])people live in this country around a river delta home to the cities of Nukus and Urgench. This country’s main ethnic group speaks (10[1])the second (10[1])most widely-spoken Turkic (-5[1])language, which is closely related to Uighur. The city of Andijan lies in this country’s section of the Ferghana Valley. (10[1])Before the effects of irrigation for cotton (10[1])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■ (10[1])

ANSWER: Uzbekistan [or Republic of Uzbekistan; or O‘zbekiston Respublikasi]
<EC, Geography>
= Average correct buzz position

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