Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a country in Central Asia. The country is landlocked (has no coast) and mountainous. It has borders with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its capital is Bishkek. It was a socialist republic of the Soviet Union, but became independent in 1991. The country was peaceful in the 1990s. Its president, Askar Akayev showed an autocratic and authoritarian character. 

Russian is spoken as an official language at state level.

In 2005, there was an unexpected revolution after the elections of parliament (the legislature) in March. President Akayev resigned on April 4 of that year. Opposition leaders formed a coalition (a group from more than one party), and a new government was formed, led by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Prime Minister Feliks Kulov.

At the moment, different political groups are fighting for power in the republic. Three of the 75 elected members of Parliament have been murdered. Kyrgyzstan’s main religion is Islam.

Geography
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It is farther from the ocean than any other country in the world. It borders Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mountains cover over 80% of the country.

The land area of Kyrgyzstan is just a little bigger than the state of Nebraska. 

Issyk-Kul Lake is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. It is the largest mountain lake in Asia and the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca. Peak Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 m (24,406 ft), is the highest point. The highest peaks are in the Kakshaal-Too range.

Bishkek, the capital city, is in the north. It is largest city in Kyrgyzstan. The second largest is the ancient town of Osh.

Cities

 Name  Kyrgyz name  Oblast  Population 1999 census results, as taken from the German wikipedia article Liste der Städte in Kirgisistan. Numbers in italics are 2008 estimates, taken from .  Type Balykchy  Балыкчы  Issyk Kul  41,342  city Batken  Баткен  Batken  10,987  city Bishkek  Бишкек  -  750,327  city Cholpon-Ata  Чолпоната  Issyk Kul  8,851  city Isfana  Исфана  Batken  16,850  city Jalal-Abad  Жалалабат  Jalal-Abad  70,401  city Kant  Кант  Chuy  22,075  city Kara-Balta  Карабалта  Chuy  47,159  city Karakol  Каракол  Issyk Kul  64,322  city Karaköl  Каракөл  Jalal-Abad  17,977  city Kara-Suu  Карасуу  Osh  19,143  city Kerben  Кербен  Jalal-Abad  n/a  city Kochkor-Ata  Кочкората  Jalal-Abad  16,104  city Kökjanggak  Көкжаңгак  Jalal-Abad  10,727  city Kyzyl-Kiya  Кызылкыя  Batken  31,844  city Mailuu-Suu  Майлуусуу  Jalal-Abad  20,365  city Naryn  Нарын  Naryn  40,050  city Nookat  Ноокат  Osh  n/a  city Osh  Oш  Osh  208,520  city Shopokov  Шопоков  Chuy  9,133  city Sulyukta  Сүлүктү  Batken  14,145  city Talas  Tалас  Talas  32,638  city Tashkömür  Ташкөмүр  Jalal-Abad  23,331  city Tokmok  Tокмок  Chuy  59,409  city Uzgen  Өзгөн  Osh  41,497  city

Economy
Kyrgyzstan was the second poorest country in the former Soviet Union next to Tajikistan. Now it is the second poorest country in Central Asia.

Agriculture is an important part of the economy in Kyrgyzstan. Much farming is still being done by hand and by horse. Main crops include wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, cotton, tobacco, vegetables, and fruit.

Kyrgyzstan is rich in mineral resources. It has small petroleum and natural gas reserves. Among its mineral reserves are solid amount of coal, gold, uranium, antimony and other metals but not iron. Metallurgy is an important industry.

Imports include petroleum and natural gas, ferrous metals, chemicals, most machinery, wood and paper products, food and construction materials. Its trade partners are Germany, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Related pages
Kyrgyzstan at the Olympics
Kyrgyzstan national football team
List of rivers of Kyrgyzstan

References


Category:Members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation