Kyrgyzstan: General Information

Geography

Area: 198.5 thousand sq. km, mountains 94% (high mountains 70%), valleys 6%.

The highest peaks: Peak Pobeda (Victory) (7439 m), Peak Lenin (7134 m), Peak Khan-Tengry (7010 m).

Valleys: Chuy valley, Talas valley, Fergana valley.

The biggest lakes: Issyk-Kul (6236 sq. km), Son-Kul (278 sq. km), Chatyr-Kul (170.6 sq. km).

Climate

Continental - the temperature in January varies between -4^o to -14^o C; in July varies between +12^o to +40^o C.

The average temperature:

Place	The average temperature
	in January	in July
Bishkek	-4,6°C	24,5°C
Osh	-3,5°C	24,7°C
Jalal-Abad	-4,1°C	25,3°C
Karakol	-6°C	20°C
Naryn	-17°C	17°C
Talas	-6,6°C	20°C
Balykchy	-3,9 – -5,8°C	17,5 – 18°C
Suusamir	-20 – -21°C	13-14°C
Song-Kul	-20°C	11°C

The average water temperature:

Lake	The average water temperature
	in January	in July
Issyk-Kul	4,2 – 5°C	20 – 24°C
Song-Kul	3°C	11 – 12°C

Time: 5 hours ahead of GMT.

Population: 5.000.121.

Nationalities: 66.9% Kyrgyz, 10.7% Russian, 22.4% other nationalities (German, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Korean, Tartar, Uigur, Uzbek, Tajik, Dungan).

Capital: Bishkek, 800.000 inhabitants.

Towns: Karakol, Naryn, Talas, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken.

Language: Kyrgyz - official, Russian - widely used.

National currency: 1 Som = 100 Tyins.

Neighbouring countries: China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan.

History

Kyrgyzstan is one of the former Soviet Republics in Central Asia. In 1991 the Republic became independent.

The history of Kyrgyzstan has its roots in the remote past. The Kyrgyz are one of the most ancient nationalities in the world. The first written references to the Kyrgyz people were found in Chinese chronicles in 201 B.C. They were almost the sole inhabitants of Southern Siberia and Central Asia. Because there was written Kyrgyz language until the late 19^th century, the only records were in Chinese, Iranian, Turkish and Arabian chronicles.

One of the versions of the meaning of the word "Kyrgyz" is "Forty Girls". The legend states that a long, long time ago there lived a Padusha who had an only daughter. To stop his daughter from feeling lonely, the Padusha gave her forty personal girl-servants and built a Palace just for them, a long way from the city. One day as the girls were walking near a lake they saw some foam in the water and decided to go swimming. Some time later it was discovered that all the girls were pregnant and the indignant father ordered them to be taken to the distant mountains and left there. The Kyrgyz people are the descendants of these girls.

Nature

The nature of Kyrgyzstan is rich and diverse. 94% of the country is covered by mountains. The lowest valley is 500 metres above sea level. The Tien-Shan (Celestial Mountains) mountain system consists of 88 powerful ranges. Three world-famous peaks can be found in Kyrgyzstan - Pobeda (7439 m), Lenin (7134 m), and the legendary white/pink marble pyramid of Khan-Tengry.

Kyrgyzstan has many lakes. Issyk-Kul is the second-largest mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca (South America).

The largest rivers are the Naryn, Kara-Darya, Sary-Djaz, Chatkal, Chuy, Kekemeren and Isfairam-Sai.

Kyrgyzstan is also rich in glaciers - there are more than 800 and they make up more than 4% of the land area of the country.

The flora is rich and varied, including: the largest walnut forests in the world (the walnut is indigenous), fruit forests, unique in their beauty and medicinal properties, large tracts of Tien-Shan spruce, Semenov fir, perennial archa, pistachio and almond, oblepikha, barberry, wild blackcurrants, honeysuckle, wild rose, and a wide variety of mushrooms and medicinal herbs.

The fauna of Kyrgyzstan is very diverse with more than 80 species of mammals, over 300 species of birds and about 30 species of reptiles and amphibian.
The climate is totally continental. There is sunshine for an average of 247 days a year. September is the driest month.

The Great Silk Road

A part of the Great Silk Road runs through Kyrgyzstan. China was unknown to the Western World and China had not suspected that countries such as Sogd, Iran and Greece existed. The Tien-Shan, Himalayan and Pamir Mountains and the waterless deserts, split the area into two cultural regions. Only in the second century B.C. DID the Chinese traveller Tchin Czan manage to traverse them. He crossed the Alai ranges, went down the Fergana Valley and found himself in Sogd, North Afghanistan and Parfia. On his return to China, Tchin Czan told of the wonders and wealth that he had seen in the countries to the west. Soon merchants with caravans of goods followed his trail. So Kyrgyzstan has become the bridge that joined East and West and became a crucial part of the Great Silk Road - three routes of which crossed Kyrgyzstan.

Culture

Epic"Manas"

The epic hero Manas is a folk hero personifying the power, freedom and unity of the Kyrgyz people. Legends about Manas have been passed orally from one generation to another for many centuries and they have been formed into the epos, which contains more than 500.000 lines of poetry. It is the longest epic poem in the world. Real life events of the Kyrgyz people were reflected in the epos and it has been preserved and recited by the storytellers, known as manaschy, who are greatly respected by the ordinary people.

Traditions and Customs

Wedding customs are the most interesting - especially the tradition of kidnapping the Bride.

It has been a tradition from time immemorial that a man may kidnap a young woman he loves. His friends and relatives help him in this. Usually the man plans the day of the kidnapping beforehand. Relatives gather at his home and lay tables and cook a festive dinner. A room is set aside in the house and one corner is curtained-off (koshego). When the woman is brought to the house her head is covered by a kerchief - the sign of virginity, and she is placed behind the curtain. This custom is still observed in Kyrgyzstan today.

The marriage rite is followed by the "Otko Kirgizish" - initiation into the family hearth. Relatives invite the young couple to the hearth and the young wife is considered an equal member of the new family only when she puts grease in the pot.

Another interesting rite is "Djengek Toi" - the feast to celebrate the birth of a baby. Also of interest is the holiday for "Tyshoo Kesuu" - cutting the strings of a young baby that has just learned to walk. The competition or race is conducted amongst invited young children. The baby's feet are tied with a black and white string. The child who wins the race is given the right to cut baby's strings. It is believed that after being released from the strings, the young person will live healthily and confidently.

The Spring Holiday of Nooruz is widely celebrated. It is connected with the celebration of the Eastern New Year and is accompanied in the evening by a symbolic purification around a large fire, accompanied by a festive meal. Different dishes are served which are cooked especially so that the coming year will be fertile and generous.

Whilst travelling around Kyrgyzstan, a traveller may see an unusual sight. Certain roadside bushes or trees (usually at the site of natural springs) are covered by strips of fabric of different colours. This dates back to when the people were Shamanists, and these "Prayer Trees" were used to ask the "powers of life" to protect against diseases or to heal relatives.

Cuisine

Meat, milk, vegetables, fruit, and pastries are the traditional products used in Kyrgyz cookery. Beshbarmak (Five fingers), is the most popular traditional, national dish. At official feasts and celebrations it may only be prepared by the men - the sheep's carcass is stripped of the remaining meat and this is mixed with noodles and herbs and served as a soup-like dish.

The most festive of the main courses is Shorpo - meat broth with vegetables and spices.

The favourite drink is kymyz. Kymyz is made from fresh mare's milk which is poured into a special leather bag - and is then stirred with a special wooden stick which is called "bishkek". The name of this stick is given to the current capital of the Republic.

Yurta

The invention of an easily assembled and reassembled house, made of felt, called a yurta, is the most remarkable achievement of the Kyrgyz nomads. A nomad could find shelter in a yurta from summer heat and rain and winter frosts. Today the yurta is popular with chabans (shepherds), who spend their summers in the high pastures (jailoo).

The basic rule for erecting a yurta is that the door should always face South or Southeast. The interior of a yurta is divided into functional zones. The "Red Corner" of the yurta is opposite the door where the trunks and chests with the main family valuables are kept. Blankets are also stacked in the same area. The middle of the yurta is occupied by the fire and a low table. The right-hand side of the yurta is the female area and the household utensils and children's things are placed here. The left-hand side is the male part where saddles, bridles and other male items are stored.