Nukus is the capital of the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan in northwestern Uzbekistan, a region surrounded by vast deserts and located near the shrinking Aral Sea. Established as a city in 1932 from a small settlement and 19th-century fortress, Nukus became the administrative centre in 1939, replacing Turtkul due to river erosion. The city features Soviet-era architecture, modern boulevards, parks, and a population exceeding 300,000, primarily Karakalpaks, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and others.
Renowned for its cultural treasures, Nukus is home to the Savitsky Museum of Art, often called the "Louvre of the Steppes," which houses an extraordinary collection of Russian avant-garde art, ancient Khorezm artefacts, and Karakalpak folk items amassed by Igor Savitsky. Local culture thrives on Karakalpak traditions such as oral storytelling, folklore, and applied arts, preserved in museums like the State Museum of History and Culture, which displays over 56,000 exhibits, including the extinct Turanian tiger. Despite its remoteness and environmental challenges from the Aral disaster, Nukus attracts adventurers with its unique archaeological sites and authentic, off-the-beaten-path atmosphere.
