Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a country in Central Asia. It is landlocked and almost completely covered in mountains. Some people call it the Switzerland of Central Asia because of its tall peaks. About 7 million people live in Kyrgyzstan, and the capital city is Bishkek.

Mountains and Lakes

More than 90 percent of Kyrgyzstan is mountains. The Tian Shan range has peaks covered in snow all year. Lake Issyk-Kul is a huge lake high in the mountains. It is the second largest mountain lake in the world and never freezes, even in winter. People hike, ride horses, and swim in the lakes during the summer. The country has snow leopards and wild sheep called argali.

Horses and Yurts

Horses are very important in Kyrgyz culture. People have ridden horses on the grasslands for thousands of years. They even play a game on horseback called kok boru. Many families, especially in the mountains, live in round white tents called yurts. Yurts are warm in winter and cool in summer. Kyrgyz food includes meat, noodles, and a salty drink called kumis made from horse milk.

Fun Facts

• Kyrgyzstan has a national sport called kok boru, played on horses with a ball.
• Lake Issyk-Kul is so big it looks like a small sea.
• The Kyrgyz epic poem 'Manas' is one of the longest poems in the world.

Did You Know?

Kyrgyz people have a saying that a good horse is worth more than a good friend, showing how much they love their horses.