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Kyrgyzstan

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Kyrgyzstan is a country located in the eastern part of Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan

It is a landlocked nation, which means it has no ocean borders. The land sits within the Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges.

Tien Shan Mountains Kyrgyzstan - 45 (48682959382)
Tien Shan Mountains Kyrgyzstan - 45 (48682959382)

To the north, it shares a border with Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan lies to the west, while Tajikistan is to the south. China sits to the east and southeast.

Kyrgyzstan Topography
Kyrgyzstan Topography

The capital city is Bishkek, which is the largest city in the country. It is located right on the northern border near Kazakhstan.

The geography of the region is very mountainous and rugged.

Kyrgyzstan Topography
Kyrgyzstan Topography

This terrain once made the area feel quite isolated from the rest of the world. However, the land was a vital part of the Silk Road. This was a famous path for traders and merchants moving between the Far East and Europe.

Caravanserai Tash Rabat on Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan
Caravanserai Tash Rabat on Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan

Travelers often stopped at places like Issyk Kul lake along this route.

Issyk-Kulmeer
Issyk-Kulmeer

Because of these trade paths, many different cultures met and lived here. This helped the area become a crossroads for many great civilizations.

Kyrgyz history is filled with many different groups and empires.

Sary - Kamysh, Kyrgyz Republic petroglyphs
Sary - Kamysh, Kyrgyz Republic petroglyphs

Long ago, the Yenisei Kyrgyz Khanate was established. Later, in the 13th century, the Mongol Empire conquered the region.

Caravanserai Tash Rabat on Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan
Caravanserai Tash Rabat on Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan

The land was also part of the Kokand Khanate and the Qing dynasty. In 1876, Kyrgyzstan became part of the Russian Empire. Later, it became a part of the Soviet Union in 1936.

Turgan Berdike-úlu
Turgan Berdike-úlu

This period saw many changes in how people lived and worked.

Kyrgyzstan became an independent nation on August 31, 1991.

White House in Bishkek
White House in Bishkek

This happened after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Askar Akayev was elected as the first president during this time. Today, the country has over 7.4 million people.

Pyramide Kirghizistan
Pyramide Kirghizistan

Most of the people are ethnic Kyrgyz, but there are also many Uzbeks and Russians. The economy relies on gold production and selling goods from China.

Osh Bazar
Osh Bazar

It is a member of many groups, including the United Nations.

Many traditions are still very important to the people today. The name "Kyrgyz" might mean "forty tribes."

Stamps of Kyrgyzstan, 2011-05
Stamps of Kyrgyzstan, 2011-05

This may refer to the forty clans of a hero named Manas.

Kyrgyz Manaschi, Karakol
Kyrgyz Manaschi, Karakol

You can even see this on the national flag. The sun on the flag has forty rays to represent those tribes. In the center of the sun, there is a symbol called a tunduk.

Stamps of Kyrgyzstan, 2011-05
Stamps of Kyrgyzstan, 2011-05

This is the wooden top of a yurt, which is a portable home used by nomads.

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🖼️ Images & Media (38)
National anthem of Kyrgyzstan.ogg
File:Kyrgyzstan (orthographic projection).svg
Kyrgyzstan (orthographic projection).svg
File:Kyrgyzstan.gif
Kyrgyzstan.gif
File:Tien Shan Mountains Kyrgyzstan - 45 (48682959382).jpg
Tien Shan Mountains Kyrgyzstan - 45...
File:Sary_-_Kamysh,_Kyrgyz_Republic_petroglyphs.jpg
Sary_-_Kamysh,_Kyrgyz_Republic_petroglyphs.jpg
File:Caravanserai Tash Rabat on Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan.jpg
Caravanserai Tash Rabat on Silk Road in...
File:Turgan Berdike-úlu.jpg
Turgan Berdike-úlu.jpg
File:Suusamyr Valley (3968060227).jpg
Suusamyr Valley (3968060227).jpg
File:Stamps of Kyrgyzstan, 2011-05.jpg
Stamps of Kyrgyzstan, 2011-05.jpg
File:Kyrgyzstan Topography.png
Kyrgyzstan Topography.png
File:Bringing the sheep home, on the southern shore of Issy-Kol. (3968109583).jpg
Bringing the sheep home, on the southern...
File:Kyrgyzstan.png
Kyrgyzstan.png

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