Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total:
198,500 km²
land:
191,300 km²
water:
7,200 km²
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total:
3,878 km
border countries:
China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Kara-Darya 132 m
highest point:
Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources: abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
44%
forests and woodland:
4%
other:
45% (1993 est.)
note:
Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked
- See also : Kyrgyzstan
