|
Location:
|
Central Asia, west of China
|
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
41 00 N, 75 00 E
|
|
Map references:
|
Asia
|
|
Area:
|
total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
|
|
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-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 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: 7.04%
permanent crops: 0.39%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (1998 est.)
other: 92.57%
|
|
Irrigated land:
|
10,740 sq km (1998 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: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
|
Geography - note:
|
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
|
