Chirchiq, city in eastern Uzbekistan, about 32 km (about 20 mi) northeast of Toshkent, along the Chirchiq River. Chirchiq lies in the Chatkal Mountains of the Tian Shan mountain system. It is in the middle of an intensively cultivated area, producing mainly vegetables and fruits, including melons and grapes. A large electrochemical works produces nitrogenous fertilizer for the region's collective farms. Chirchiq's industries also include the production of ferroalloys (a group of iron alloys) and machinery for the agricultural and chemical industries. Chirchiq is also a major winter recreation area for the Toshkent area. Ski resorts near the city attract tourists from throughout Central Asia. A water diversion on the Chirchiq River just outside the city provides the major source of drinking water for Toshkent and other cities to the south. Chirchiq has a branch of the Toshkent Polytechnical Institute. The city was founded in 1935, when several local villages grew together as a consequence of the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Chirchiq River. Population (1991 estimate) 158,400.
