Kyrgyzstan Geography:
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Area:
total:
198,500 sq km
land:
191,300 sq km
water:
7,200 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1099 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: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 92.35%
(2001)
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements (not ratified)
Geography - Note:
Landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes |
