91
the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. In addition, a number of Israeli,
Jordanian and Palestinian experts have been interviewed.
The outcome of these extensive discussions, studies and meetings will be
presented in Parts III and IV of this volume. In the following, we will provide a brief
overview of the situation in the two case study regions and illustrate their similarities and differences.
7.2 The Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley is situated in the “heart” of Central Asia. In ancient times,
branches of the famous Silk Road crossed the valley. The valley is shared between
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Syrdarya River and some of its major
tributaries cross the valley on their way to the Aral Sea (see Fig. 7.1 ). Its extension
is limited by the surrounding mountains.
It is one of the most fertile regions in Central Asia and one of the oldest irrigation
cultures worldwide. Already in the Neolithic Age, wheat and barley were watered
by means of gravity irrigation. The historical extension of the irrigation is compaFig. 7.1 Topographic map of the Fergana Valley (Source: Kreutzmann 2015 , in this volume,
pp. 113–127)
7 Research in Two Case Studies: Irrigation and Land Use in the Fergana Valley…
the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. In addition, a number of Israeli,
Jordanian and Palestinian experts have been interviewed.
The outcome of these extensive discussions, studies and meetings will be
presented in Parts III and IV of this volume. In the following, we will provide a brief
overview of the situation in the two case study regions and illustrate their similarities and differences.
7.2 The Fergana Valley
The Fergana Valley is situated in the “heart” of Central Asia. In ancient times,
branches of the famous Silk Road crossed the valley. The valley is shared between
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Syrdarya River and some of its major
tributaries cross the valley on their way to the Aral Sea (see Fig. 7.1 ). Its extension
is limited by the surrounding mountains.
It is one of the most fertile regions in Central Asia and one of the oldest irrigation
cultures worldwide. Already in the Neolithic Age, wheat and barley were watered
by means of gravity irrigation. The historical extension of the irrigation is compaFig. 7.1 Topographic map of the Fergana Valley (Source: Kreutzmann 2015 , in this volume,
pp. 113–127)
7 Research in Two Case Studies: Irrigation and Land Use in the Fergana Valley…