Термез: История и современность приграничного города.

Ancient city in Surxondaryo Region, Uzbekistan

Some link the name of the city to the Greek word Θέρμος (thermos), meaning "hot", and date the toponym to the rule of Alexander the Great. Others suggest that it came from Sanskrit तर्मतो (taramato), meaning "on the river bank".

In 1887, the Russian Empire began to operate a brown water navy on the Amu Darya River. In December 1894, the Amu Darya Fleet was joined by the 31st Amu Darya Border Brigade. In the coming years troop levels were increased, as the 4th Orenburg Cossack Regiment, the 13th Turkestan Special Battalion, and the 2nd Orenburg Cossack Battery were relocated to the area. The Emirate of Bukhara acquiesced to increasing demands from the Tsarist government for more lands, until on January 27, 1900, over nine thousand acres were donated to Russia, and the Russian military began a program of Russian resettlement to the area. During the years of Soviet rule, as Termez became a hub of Russian military activity, many industries were developed, and a pedagogical institute and theatre were opened. Termez saw a significant increase in industrial development during World War II, as the Soviet Union replaced industrial centers in the western regions that had been disrupted by Nazi attacks. For many years after the Second World War the 108th Motor Rifle Division, the former 360th Rifle Division, was based in the town. During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989), Termez became an increasingly important military post, with over 100,000 Soviet troops stationed there. A military airfield and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge, a combined bridge over the Amu Darya, were built. In 1989, Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan via the Termez bridge, bringing the conflict to an end.

In 2001, Germany began operating a base in Termez. The military airfield was the main support base for German and Dutch forces operating with the ISAF for transiting goods into Afghanistan. It was closed in 2015. Following the 2021 Taliban offensive and resultant Fall of Kabul, the Biden administration reached out to Uzbekistan, as well as Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, to ask if they might temporarily accommodate up to 9,000 Afghans who might face reprisals for working with U. S. military forces. By the 5th of July, the state security services had constructed a refugee camp in Termez to brace for an Afghan refugee crisis. Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported that 494 Afghans were evacuated through the Termez Airport. In August 2021, Russia and Uzbekistan held joint military exercises outside of Termez.

The river Amu Darya divides the two countries of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge crosses the river to Hairatan in Afghanistan. Termez is also served by Termez Airport, with flights to Tashkent and Moscow. Termez is connected with Uzbek Railways to other cities of the countries and Mazar i Sharif, Afghanistan. The Tashkent–Termez (no. 379) and Termez–Tashkent (no. 380) trains run every day. Dushanbe–Kanibadam (no. 367) and Kanibadam Dushanbe (No: 368) trains also pass through Termez. Plans exist to connect Termez to Peshawar by rail, as a part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, and China's larger Belt and Road Initiative. There is public transportation in the city, represented by buses and marshrutkas. There are also public and private taxi services. Termez river port (Termiz daryo bandargohi) is located in the south eastern part of the city. The city has an international airport "Termez", which has regular air connections with Tashkent, with some other major cities of Uzbekistan, as well as with some Russian cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. Termez is the main southern gateway of Uzbekistan. 12 km east of Termez, the Amu Darya River is crossed by the pedestrian, highway and railroad cross border bridge Hairatan (also known as the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge), which is the only border crossing between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Every day, people, cars, trucks and freight trains pass over the bridge in both directions. The city is one of the main railroad hubs of southern Uzbekistan. It is from Termez that the international freight railroad leading to the Afghan city of Mazar i Sharif begins. In fact, the railroad goes all the way to Mazar i Sharif International Airport, 8 km west of the city itself. The distance between Termez and Mazar i Sharif is about 80 km by road or rail.

The estimated population of Termez in 2021 was 182,800. A 2014 World Bank report found that the population of Termez grew by 50% in the period between 1990 and 2014. Using satellite data, Termez was classified as a "Type 3" city, having a "Growing Population & Declining Economic Activity." This report was issued, however, before the presidency and economic reforms of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In 1992 the Pedagogical Institute was upgraded to Termez State University. Termez is also served by the Termez Branch of Tashkent Medical Academy, Termez Technical University, and the Termez Branch of Tashkent State Agrarian University. There are 26 secondary schools in Termez, six of which offer instruction in the Russian language. A presidential school opened in 2021.

Termez has a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk) bordering upon a hot arid climate (BWh) with long, sweltering summers and short, cool winters.

Termez hosts the Surkhon Termez football club, which plays in Alpomish Stadium. Termez also has a kurash training facility, and a hippodrome where kupkari is played. Various competitions are often held here. At the end of May 2022, Termez now hosted the Uzbekistan kurash championship among juniors born in 2007–2008.

Termez Archaeological Museum opened in 2002 to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of Termez. It exhibits archaeological finds and other historic artefacts from sites across Surxondaryo Region. The modern building has a turquoise domed roof and an attractively tiled facade. It is one of the largest and best museums in Uzbekistan. There are around 27,000 items in the collection. Kyr Kyz (The 40 Girls Fortress) takes its name from a Central Asian legend about a princess and her 40 companions who defended their land against invaders. Although this monument is called a fortress, archeologists believe it was actually either a caravanserai or a summer palace. Fayaz Tepe is a Buddhist monastery, most of which dates from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. The main stupa (which is now encased in a protective dome) could be much older. The Zurmala Stupa is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Uzbekistan, dating from the 1st to 2nd centuries AD. Its brick structure is 16m high and is the only remaining part of a vast Buddhist stupa which would have been originally clad in stone and richly decorated. It houses the tomb of Abu Abdullah Muhammad Hakim Termezi, a prominent Islamic scholar, author of various philosophical and religious works, and the founder of a group of dervishes.