Khiva is a museum-city, located in the west of the Khorezm region, at an altitude of about 100 above sea level. It is an oasis-city with ancient walls, unique clay buildings and minarets. Nearby is the great Kyzyl-Kum desert.
The city was the center of the northern branch of the Great Silk Road.
Khiva was also the capital of the Khanate of Khiva. The state always called itself Khorezm, but starting from the 17th century Russian historians began to call the state „the Khanate of Khiva” in honor of its capital “Khiva”.
