Karakalpakstan (Karakalpak: Qaraqalpaqstan Respublikasiʻ (Қарақалпақстан Республикасы); Uzbek: Qoraqalpogʻiston Respublikasi (Қорақалпоғистон Республикаси) is an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan. It occupies the whole northwestern end of Uzbekistan. The capital is Nukus (Karakalpak: Noʻkis (Нөкис)). The Republic of Karakalpakstan has an area of 160,000 square kilometres (62,000 sq mi). Its territory covers the classical land of Khwarezm, though in classical Persian literature the area was known as "Kāt" (کات).