URGENCH

also spelled Urgenc, city, south-central Uzbekistan. The city lies along the Shavat Canal and the Amu Darya (river). Urgench was founded when the inhabitants of the ancient city of Urgench, near present-day Kunya-Urgench, 80 miles (130 km) to the northwest, moved there in the mid-17th century because of their lack of water supply. Formerly a centre of trade in the khanate of Khiva, Urgench now has several light industries and a music and drama theatre. Pop. (1991 est.) 130,400.