Water Unites

Locations where photos were taken
treasure of the family. In the truest sense of the word, they live off and with nature. Further
down the Syr Darya in the Ferghana Valley, rice cultivation is practiced. Rice needs large
amounts of water, especially here, where precipitation is low. The farmers in the fields of
the Ferghana Valley work hard. Agricultural machines are rarely used here. Even though
the local agriculture still has a very traditional character, the valley is a lush breadbasket.
Even in the times of the legendary Silk Road, it fed locals and travelers, offered them a
safe shelter and resting place. No piece of land remains unused. Rice, cereals, fruits, vegetables
and grapes feed millions of people.
On the huge Panjshanbe Bazaar near Khujand, Tajikistan, farmers sell their goods.
The bazaar boasts a wide range of products produced by farmers in the Ferghana Valley.
There are also fish from the Syr Darya and the nearby Kairakkum Reservoir. Every day,
women bring fresh or smoked fish to the bazaar. Ensuring food security for the growing
population today and in the future is a challenge. In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan,
the television tower is the pride and the symbol of the city. It combines contemporary
style with traditional Uzbek elements. It is a symbol of a nation that is trying to preserve
its rich heritage and, at the same time, turns its gaze to the future. Tashkent is over 2 000
years old, but it was completely destroyed in 1966 during an earthquake. Some monuments
were forever lost in this catastrophe. At the same time, planners got an opportunity
to implement their vision of a new city-a symbol of Soviet modernization in Asia. Today,
Tashkent is the biggest city in Central Asia. Bazaars, broad boulevards, spacious parks
and numerous fountains illuminate the cityscape.
On the way to the Aral Sea, we can see cotton and rice fields. Today, the consequences
of irrigation agriculture can be seen everywhere. Wrong and unsustainable
practices lead to land salinization, which is hard to stop.
Photo essay Tian Shan / Syr Darya
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