Final answer:
The Central Asian republics include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and sometimes Afghanistan. These countries became independent after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and have been navigating transitions in their political and economic systems as well as dealing with environmental challenges such as the shrinkage of the Aral Sea.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the nations that are part of the Central Asian republics, one key example is Kazakhstan, the largest country in the region by area. Others include Uzbekistan, which is the most populous Central Asian country and shares a border with all the other Central Asian republics. The remaining countries are Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Afghanistan is also usually included as part of Central Asia, even though it was never formally part of the Soviet Union.
These countries became independent following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Uzbekistan's significance is marked by its doubly landlocked situation and a heavy reliance on river water for irrigation. Tajikistan, although smaller in size, has a notable population with a majority being Sunni Muslims and ethnically Tajik. The region's economy, culture, and environment have been heavily influenced by the Soviet era, but the transition to independence brought challenges such as the need to develop political and economic systems and the environmental crisis of the Aral Sea. Central Asian cultures retain influences from their nomadic past, yet have been significantly shaped by the Soviet period, particularly in urban areas where Russian influence remains strong.