The Fergana Valley is a very fertile large triangular valley in an otherwise dry part of Central Asia.  It owes its fertility to two rivers which run from east to west, bringing water down from the surrounding mountains, and joining to form the Syr Drya.  The area has been culivated for over 2,300 years and fought over many times.  The valley formed part of three republics of the former Soviet Union: Uzbekistan, Krygyzstan and Tajikistan and is ethnically diverse populated by ethnic Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz people, plus substantial numbers of Russians, Kasgarians, Kipchaks, Bukharan Jews and Romani minorities.

The Soviet Union saw the valley as ideal for mass cotton cultivation and this remains central to the economy.  However, the enormous about of water required for irrigation contributed greatly to the sad demise of the Aral Sea.  

As we drove from Sary Tash down to Osh we came along the upper reaches of the southern edge of the Fergana before crossing into Uzbekistan and the Fergana Valley proper.

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