Xovos District

History and setting

Xovos District was created in December 1926, later bore the names Boyovut and Yangiyer, and has been called Xovos since 1975; Mehnatobod District was merged into it in 2004. It borders Boyovut District, Bekobod District of Tashkent Region, Tajikistan, Zomin District of Jizzakh Region and Sardoba and Mirzaobod districts. The land climbs from a plain at 250–350 m in the north to hills and mountains of 1,200–1,600 m in the south. In antiquity it belonged to Ustrushana, and the settlement of Eski Khovos stood on the Shorbuloqsay.

Known for

The Khovos, or Bekobod, wind is one of the strongest in Central Asia, blowing on 48–52 days a year, mostly between November and March, at 25–30 m/s in winter. The South Hungry Steppe canal and streams such as the Savatsay and Khojamushkentsay water the district. Protected monuments include the Bibi Khadija mausoleum in Khovosobod village, the Sher Bobo and Yusuf Bobo mausoleums and the Toltepa mound by the railway station. Khovos is an important railway junction on the lines to Samarkand and Khujand.