The Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor, a UNESCO World Heritage site spanning Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, is an 866-kilometer stretch of the ancient Silk Road, active from the 2nd century BCE to the 16th century CE. This corridor, running along the Zarafshan River and through the Karakum Desert to the Merv Oasis, features 31 sites, including medieval cities, caravanserais, and Sogdian settlements. Recognized for its role in facilitating trade and cultural exchange across diverse landscapes—mountains, valleys, and deserts—it showcases a rich blend of architecture, technology, and traditions from Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam, reflecting Central Asia’s historical significance as a crossroads of civilizations.

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