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Central Asia

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Central Asia is a subregion of Asia. Definitions of the region vary, for example [1] gives in "rough terms": the region from Iranian Azerbaijan and Turkic/Muslim regions of southern Russia in the west, through northern Afghanistan and southern Siberia, to Tibet and Mongolia in the east.

Countries typically included in entirety are:

together with parts of:

Sometimes the countries of Transcaucasia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia are included.

History

Historically, the region was crossed by the Silk Road.

Geography

The area features high mountain ranges (Tian Shan), deserts (Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum, Taklamakan) and steppes.

Rivers include: Amu Darya, Syr Darya, Hari Rud

Major bodies of water include: Aral Sea, Lake Balkhash

Demographics

The region is largely inhabited by Turkic peoples.