Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia, with an area of 447,001 km² and a population of 26 million. The ethnic groups include Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Tatar, and other minorities. The country gained independence in August 1991 from the former USSR. The President is Islom Abduganievich KARIMOV. The capital is Tashkent with a population of 2 million. The religion is predominantly Muslim and Eastern Orthodox. The geography of Uzbekistan consists of desert, steppe, and mountainous areas.