Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide
Kyrgyzstan is a republic in Central Asia, bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Kyrgyzstan is known primarily for its nature: mountains, lakes, rivers, and landscapes, which are too beautiful for words. The Kyrgyz are a nomadic people in their past, whose traditions are still reflected in the daily life of the population today.
Nature of Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is dominated by the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains, which make up about 94% of the country's total area. About 8,000 glaciers are located in Kyrgyzstan, covering about 4% of the country. By comparison, there are about 1,200 glaciers in the entire Alpine region. Kyrgyzstan is also known for its 2,000 lakes. The most famous lake, Issyk-Kul, is considered the second-largest mountain lake in the world. Already during Soviet times, Issyk-Kul was a popular tourist destination.
KYRGYZSTAN – COUNTRY OF NOMADS
The Kyrgyz are a nomadic people, originally of Mongol origin, who in the 3rd century were described in Chinese sources as a "wild mountain people". Only after the conquest of the region by the Russians, part of the population had become sedentary at the beginning of the 19th century. However, the nomadic origin did not vanish. Today about 65% of the population lives in the countryside, and the tradition of spending hot summers in a yurt in the mountains is still widespread.
