Mirzachul District

Overview

Until 1959 Mirzachul District belonged to Tashkent Region; it was then merged into Gulistan District and re-created on 9 January 1967. Its centre is the town of Gagarin, named after the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, and it has 12 mahallas. It borders Kazakhstan to the north, Syrdarya Region to the north-east and the Dustlik, Forish and Arnasoy districts.

The land is low and flat and the climate sharply continental and dry, averaging −1.5°C in January and 30°C in July, with about 240 mm of rain a year. The soils are pale grey earths and salt flats. Large-scale irrigation from the mid-20th century turned the historic Hungry Steppe into cotton and grain fields.

Today people grow cotton, grain and fruit and raise livestock, and the district has parks, stadiums and memorials.