What is "karakalpakstan"

Karakalpakstan ( / ), officially the Republic of Karakalpakstan ( / ) is an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan. It occupies the whole northwestern end of Uzbekistan. The capital is Nukus ( / ). The Republic of Karakalpakstan has an area of . Its territory covers the classical land of Khwarezm, though in classical Persian literature the area was known as .