The Karakul or QaraQul (
Persian: قراقل ; from Karakul, meaning "black lake" in several
Turkic languages) is a
breed of domesticated
sheep. It originated in
Central Asia, and some archaeological evidence points to it being bred there continuously since 1400 BC. Hailing from the
desert regions of
Central Asia, the Karakul is renowned for its ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions. Karakul are used in Central Asia for their meat, milk and fat. The Karakul's most important feature, however, is its prized pelt, from which karakul wool comes. The pelts are taken from young lambs and have a tight curly pattern of hair. It is distinguished from Karaculcha, which is taken from the fetus (unborn sheep) by first slaying the pregnant sheep. The Karakulcha pelts are not curly at all but have a smooth, almost flat, silky wavy pattern. Many adults are double-coated and the coarse guard hair must be separated from the undercoat. Karakul is relatively coarse fiber used for outer garment and for felting. This wool is also used to make high-end
hats and
carpets and hand-woven rugs in its native lands. Dark colors are dominant and lambs often darken in color as they age.
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