Karakalpaks
| Qaraqalpaqlar, Қарақалпақлар | |
|---|---|
Flag of Karakalpakstan
|
|
Karakalpak boys race in Taxtako‘pir
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| Total population | |
| approx. 620,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Uzbekistan
|
518,301 |
 Kazakhstan
|
56,000 |
 Turkmenistan
|
5,000 |
 Russia
|
4,466 |
| Languages | |
| Karakalpak | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
The Karakalpaks or Qaraqalpaqs (
i/ˈkærəlkəlpɑːks, -pæks/; Karakalpak: Qaraqalpaqlar, Қарақалпақлар) are a Turkic people who primarily live in Uzbekistan. During the 18th century, they settled in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and in the (former) delta of Amu Darya on the southern shore of the Aral Sea. The name "Karakalpak" comes from two words: "qara" meaning black, and "qalpaq" meaning hat. The Karakalpaks number nearly 620,000 worldwide, out of which about 500,000 live in the Uzbek Republic of Karakalpakstan.
The Karakalpak population is mainly confined to the central part of Karakalpakstan that is irrigated by the Amu Darya. The largest communities live in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan, and the surrounding large towns, such as Khodzheli, Shimbay, Takhtaitash, and Kungrad. Rural Karakalpaks mainly live on former collective or state farms, most of which have been recently privatised.
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Wikipedia