Silk Road: News, Events, Articles

One of the most important sections of the Great Silk Road - the caravan path running through the rocky Usturt plateau - has been turned into autobahn which meets all modern requirements. Kungrad - Beynau section of the transcontinental Hamburg- Shanghai throughway is reputed as one of the most complicated sections since it crosses the world's most severe desert which stretches from north to south for 700 kilometres and from east to west for 400 kilometres. In the summer the temperature in shade can exceed 40 degrees Сelsius, and everything is burnt by the scorching sun.

Within centuries through the Great plateau there ran one of the most important branches of the Great Silk Road. As far as antiquity merchants and travelers knew that the shortest caravan route connecting the West and the East passed between the Caspian and the Aral seas.

The Usturt plateau occupies the territory of three countries - Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. People confronted the difficulties of construction works on the plateau already fifty years ago. It was at that time that Bukhara-Ural and Central Asia - Central Russia powerful gas lines were built.

In the 21st century one will easily cross the Usturt plateau. The highway, which is being built through the plateau, will provide three-lane two-way traffic with the speed up to 120-150 kilometres per hour. It is expected that 15-20 thousand vehicles will ride along the trans-Usturt highway daily.

The construction of the modern highway started in 2002 from Kugrad, the regional centre of Karakalpak Autonomous Republic of Uzbekistan. In bygone days this city was the utmost northern point of Khiva khanate and within many centuries it used to be the staging post in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya river. From here the Uzbekistan road builders have advanced towards Beynau - the regional centre in Manghistaus province of Kazakhstan. From the Uzbek border the Kazakh road builders will direct further to the north towards the border with Russia in order to construct their section of the transcontinental Hamburg-Shaghai highway. A branch road to the Caspian port Aktau is planned to be built from the Kazakh section of the highway.

Port Aktau on the eastern coastline of the Caspian Sea is to serve a special purpose on the restored Great Silk Road. Today international ferry-lines link this port with ports of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia. After the modern highway is built from the transcontinental arterial road the significance of Aktau port in the international transportation operations will considerably increase.

Autobahn across the Usturt plateau will also expand the business opportunities of south-east and north-west transport corridor. The autobahn will enable Uzbekistan not only to improve the trade with the EU countries but also to strengthen the current relations with its major business partner - Russia.

People tried to develop the riches of the Usturt at all times, long before our era. This is proved by numerous beautifully decorated mausoleums which have preserved to the present days. With new pages of the Great plateau history being opened, this region attracts more and more travelers. And the modern highway which is to be built through the Usturt plateau makes this mysterious land between two seas quite accessible.

Silk Road History
Silk Road Articles and News
Silk Road GuideBooks
Silk Road Maps
Silk Road Tours
Great Silk Road and Unesco

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Email: travel@roxanatour.com

Telephone: +99890 176 98 83

Roxana Tour Co.
Usmon Nosir 128 bld 8
Tashkent,
Uzbekistan

Random Links: Silk Road Tours Tours along Silk Road Silk Road Tours