The
Karakalpaks or
Qaraqalpaqs (; ) are a
Turkic people who primarily live in
Uzbekistan. During the 18th century, they settled in the lower reaches of the
Amu Darya and in the (former)
delta of Amu Darya on the southern shore of the
Aral Sea. The name "Karakalpak" comes from two words: "
qara" meaning black, and "
qalpaq" meaning hat. The Karakalpaks number nearly 620,000 worldwide, out of which about 500,000 live in the Uzbek
Republic of Karakalpakstan.