Aqcha
Encyclopedia
Aqcha is a city in northern Afghanistan
approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) east from Sheberghan
and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) west from Mazar-i-Sharif. It is the center of the Aqcha District
in Jowzjan Province
, Afghanistan
. The population is more than 50,000 people. It is situated a few kilometers north of the main Sheberghan—Mazar-i-Sharif road called Aqyol (white road).
The city is well known for the traditional carpets and rugs made in the area, predominantly in Turkoman, Bokhara and Fil Pah (elephant's foot) designs.
Both people of the Turkoman and the Uzbek
ethnic group live in Aqcha.
Akcha also used to be a khanate
of Afghan
Turkestan
. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was protected by a mud wall and a citadel, with an estimated population of 8000 people, chiefly Uzbeks
. The khanate was small, but well watered and populous.
The rivers rising in the southern mountains, which no longer reach the Oxus River, terminate in vast swamps near Akcha, and the debris of yearly vegetation that springs up on the slopes of the southern hills is washed down into the swamps during floods.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) east from Sheberghan
Sheberghan
Sheberghān or Shaburghān , also spelled Shebirghan and Shibarghan, is the capital city of the Jowzjan Province in northern Afghanistan.-Location:...
and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) west from Mazar-i-Sharif. It is the center of the Aqcha District
Aqcha District
Aqcha District is situated in the central part of Jowzjan Province in northern Afghanistan. It borders Mardyan and Mingajik districts to the north, Sheberghan District to the West, Sar-e Pol Province to the south and Fayzabad District to the east. The population is more than 50,000 people...
in Jowzjan Province
Jowzjan Province
Jowzjān or Jōzjān or Jawzjan is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the north of the country. Its capital is Sheberghan.- Demographics :...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The population is more than 50,000 people. It is situated a few kilometers north of the main Sheberghan—Mazar-i-Sharif road called Aqyol (white road).
The city is well known for the traditional carpets and rugs made in the area, predominantly in Turkoman, Bokhara and Fil Pah (elephant's foot) designs.
Both people of the Turkoman and the Uzbek
Uzbek
Uzbek and Uzbekistani are adjectives referring to the state of Uzbekistan. As a noun, Uzbek may also refer to:* Uzbeks, an ethnic group* Uzbeg Khan, the Khan of the Golden Horde of the Mongol Empire* Uzbek cuisine* Uzbek language- See also :...
ethnic group live in Aqcha.
Akcha also used to be a khanate
Khanate
Khanate, or Chanat, is a Turco-Mongol-originated word used to describe a political entity ruled by a Khan. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık, and in modern Azeri of the republic of Azerbaijan, xanlıq. In Mongolian the word khanlig is used, as in "Khereidiin Khanlig" meaning the Khanate...
of Afghan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
Turkestan
Turkestan
Turkestan, spelled also as Turkistan, literally means "Land of the Turks".The term Turkestan is of Persian origin and has never been in use to denote a single nation. It was first used by Persian geographers to describe the place of Turkish peoples...
. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was protected by a mud wall and a citadel, with an estimated population of 8000 people, chiefly Uzbeks
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
. The khanate was small, but well watered and populous.
The rivers rising in the southern mountains, which no longer reach the Oxus River, terminate in vast swamps near Akcha, and the debris of yearly vegetation that springs up on the slopes of the southern hills is washed down into the swamps during floods.