Isfana
Encyclopedia
Isfana is a small town
of about 28,085 at the extreme western end of Batken Oblast in southern Kyrgyzstan
, at the southern fringe of the Fergana
valley. Backed up against the enormous mountains in the south and surrounded on three sides by Tajikistan
, the town and the nearby villages are largely cut off from the rest of Kyrgyzstan, making life very difficult. Isfana is the administrative center of Leilek District
. The word "isfana" is believed to come from the Iranian Sogdian
word "Aspanakent" which means "the land of horses".
During the Soviet era there were major manufacturing industries in Isfana, but the difficult economic situation since independence has resulted in widespread factory closures. Workers now have to move abroad to make a living, most going to Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
: Gymnasium #1, which is more commonly known as the Kyrgyz Gymnasium, and Uzbek Gymnasium no. 4, named after Usman Matkarimov (more commonly known as the Uzbek Gymnasium). There are also several other secondary schools: Alisher Navoi Secondary School (classes in Uzbek and Kyrgyz), Isfana Secondary School (classes in Uzbek only), Gagarin Secondary School (classes in Russian only), Issyk Kul Secondary School (classes in Uzbek and Kyrgyz), Toktogul Secondary School (classes in Uzbek only), Amir Temur Secondary School (classes in Uzbek only). There is also an Academy of Finance and Management, which is part of the Bishkek Economics Academy faculty.
The majority of the population of Isfana are ethnic Uzbeks - even though it is in Kyrgyzstan. This is a result of Stalin's "divide and rule" policy . You will see Uzbek towns in Kyrgyzstan and Tajik towns in Uzbekistan - in the Soviet Union borders were drawn inconsistent with the traditional locations of ethnic populations so that people with historical claims to land would be dependent on the central power, that is Moscow, making them easier to control. Many people in Central Asia believe that they should be part of another country, including Isfana's Uzbeks.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of about 28,085 at the extreme western end of Batken Oblast in southern Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, at the southern fringe of the Fergana
Fergana
Fergana is a city , the capital of Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southern edge of the Fergana Valley in southern Central Asia, cutting across the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan...
valley. Backed up against the enormous mountains in the south and surrounded on three sides by Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, the town and the nearby villages are largely cut off from the rest of Kyrgyzstan, making life very difficult. Isfana is the administrative center of Leilek District
Leilek District
Leilek is a raion of Batken Province in south-western Kyrgyzstan. It borders with Batken District in the east, and Tajikistan in the south, west, and north. The capital lies at Isfana...
. The word "isfana" is believed to come from the Iranian Sogdian
Sogdian language
The Sogdian language is a Middle Iranian language that was spoken in Sogdiana , located in modern day Uzbekistan and Tajikistan ....
word "Aspanakent" which means "the land of horses".
During the Soviet era there were major manufacturing industries in Isfana, but the difficult economic situation since independence has resulted in widespread factory closures. Workers now have to move abroad to make a living, most going to Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Climate
In Isfana the winters are relatively short and compartively warm, the spring and fall see significant rainfall, while the summers are hot and dry. There are many dryland wheat and barley fields in the Isfana area that depend on winter snow and spring rain to produce good crops.Transport
Isfana is landlocked. The town is served by an airport built during the Soviet period, although currently it only has flights to Bishkek.Education
There are two gymnasiumsGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
: Gymnasium #1, which is more commonly known as the Kyrgyz Gymnasium, and Uzbek Gymnasium no. 4, named after Usman Matkarimov (more commonly known as the Uzbek Gymnasium). There are also several other secondary schools: Alisher Navoi Secondary School (classes in Uzbek and Kyrgyz), Isfana Secondary School (classes in Uzbek only), Gagarin Secondary School (classes in Russian only), Issyk Kul Secondary School (classes in Uzbek and Kyrgyz), Toktogul Secondary School (classes in Uzbek only), Amir Temur Secondary School (classes in Uzbek only). There is also an Academy of Finance and Management, which is part of the Bishkek Economics Academy faculty.
History
People have lived in Isfana since the 16th century. In 2001 Isfana was given the title of a town.The majority of the population of Isfana are ethnic Uzbeks - even though it is in Kyrgyzstan. This is a result of Stalin's "divide and rule" policy . You will see Uzbek towns in Kyrgyzstan and Tajik towns in Uzbekistan - in the Soviet Union borders were drawn inconsistent with the traditional locations of ethnic populations so that people with historical claims to land would be dependent on the central power, that is Moscow, making them easier to control. Many people in Central Asia believe that they should be part of another country, including Isfana's Uzbeks.