The total area of the city is 120 km². The population as of January 1, 2015 amounted to 504.4 thousand. Residents [4] The city is situated at an altitude of 702 meters above sea level. The historic city center - the Registan Square and the ensemble. In 2001, the city and its historical and architectural and archeological monuments have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in Uzbekistan called "Samarkand - crossroads of cultures."
Samarkand - one of the oldest cities in the world [5] [6], founded in 742 BC. e, the center of the historic area and Sogdiana state. More than two thousand years the city was a key point on the Silk Road between China and Europe, as well as one of the main centers of science of the medieval East. In 875-999 years Samarkand was one of the leading political and cultural centers of the Samanid state. From 875 until 892 years Samarkand was the capital of this state. In the XIV century it became the capital of Tamerlane's empire and the Timurid dynasty. In 1925-1930 years of Samarkand was the capital of the Uzbek SSR.