About Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) is among of most picturesque places in Central Asia, more than 2/3 of its territory occupied by mountains which shows diversity of climate and natural landscape, variety of vegetable and animal world. Having been there, you will discover land of snowcapped mountains, you will take pleasure by appearance of severe peaks of Tien Shan alight under the sun light. Wild nature with majestic waterfalls and rough mountain rivers flow into lakes of crystal pure water will surprise you by its beauty.
Pearl of Kyrgyzstan – Issyk-Kul Lake non-freezing the whole year round will shake your imagination. To our time at the territory of Kyrgyzstan many amazing places and memorials of ancient civilizations are well saved; sacred mountain of Suleyman (Solomon) in Osh city, biggest on the Planet relict walnut woods of Arslan Bab, healing hot thermal water springs in Jalal Abad, caravansary Tash Rabat, Burana tower, biggest in the World accumulation of petroglyphs Saymaluu Tash.
Visiting Kyrgyzstan, you can pass on roads of Great Silk Road, to plunge into unforgettable world of wild nature and unexplored routes, as well get to know traditions and habits of hospitable Kyrgyz people.
General Information
Situation: northeast of Central Asia.
Coordinates: 41° 00" northern width and 75° 00" eastern width
Area: 198,5 sq.km, 94% of country occupied by mountains. Mean altitude - 2750 m above-sea level.
Population: 5 200,0 thousand people (2007 г.)
National composition of the population: Kyrgyz 58%, russian - 18%, uzbek - 16%, kazah, tajik, uygur and other nationalities - 8%.
Capital city: Bishkek
Language: Kyrgyz language – official, Russian – official and main international language.
Religion: Islam – 75%, orthodoxy- 20%, other religions – 5%.
Time: UT+5 hours.
Energy: 220 V AC, 50 А; standard double plug.
Internet Zone: .kg
National currency: Som (100 tiyin) par of exchange 1$ = 46,5 som.
Good time for trip: May-October
State symbology.
Flag of Kyrgyzstan
Proportions: 1:2. Red colored cloth. Image of yellow sun is in the centre of the flag. On the sun image - symbolistical image of Kyrgyz yurta (nomad's tent).
Accepted in 1992. Red color of flag represents heroism and boldness. Sun impersonates rest and wealth, image of yurta – symbol of Motherland and peace.
Coat of arms of Kyrgyzstan.
Arms of Kyrgyzstan – official state symbol of Kyrgyz Republic; designed by authors A. Abdraev and S. Dubanaev and accepted on 14 January 1994 by Decree of Parliament.
In the centre of arms against a background of Issyk Kul Lake and ridges of Ala Too, where the sun rises, situated image of white falcon with sprawled wings symbolizing freedom and independence of Kyrgyzstan. Silhouette of sun is a symbol of life, wealth and abundance. This element takes a main place in the state symbols. Top of mountains alighted by the sun looks like Kyrgyz national headwear- “kalpak”.
According to the ideology of nomads a special place belongs to steppe eagle or golden eagle. In the symbolic language silhouette of golden eagle means state power, wideness and far-sightedness. For steppe nomads it is symbol of freedom, independence, urge towards an aim, to highness, fly into future. On the Kyrgyzstan arms it is gyrfalcon “Ak - Shumkar” of Manas.
Geographical situation
The Kyrgyz Republic is situated on northeast of Central Asia, it takes part of Tien Shan and northern mountain chain of Pamir Altay. Borders go mainly through natural borders – cams of mountain ridges and rivers, just partly they goes down to steppes of Chui, Talas and Fergana valleys.
Kyrgyzstan neighbors: on north – Kazakhstan, on west and northwest –Uzbekistan, on southwest- Tajikistan and on southeast – China (length of border 1049 km). Total length of border line of Kyrgyzstan is 4503 km. Total area of Kyrgyzstan is 198,5 sq.km. 94% of the area is occupied by mountains. Mean altitude – 2750 m above the sea level.
Territory of the Kyrgyz Republic is stretched from west to east for 900 km, from north to south for 410 km and it lies between 39° and 43° northern width.
Most elevated part of the territory of Republic is situated on its southern borders. Here, in mountain chain bordering with China are situated highest points of all Tien Shan mountain system – peak of Victory (7439m) and Han-Tengri (6995m). From there mountain ridges spread fan-shaped to west and southwest set up separated parallel chains stretched in width’s direction up to 300-400km. At the fare south border of republic with Tajikistan mark out highest mountain ridge Chon-Alay (Zaalayski), where situated second highest peak of Kyrgyzstan – Peak Lenin(7134 м).
Complicated structure of the mountain relief and mixed character of ecological conditions caused big variety of soil-vegetable topsoil and animal world of Kyrgyzstan. On its territory are seen deserts, steppes, meadows, forests, brakes, swamps, mountain tundra and other types of vegetation.
The Kyrgyz Republic has huge water-supply. In 7 biggest river basins are situated more than 28000 rivers and sources, 90% of them has 10 km extent. There are some rivers with high level of stream. For example Naryn river’s extent is 500 km.
There are more than 200 lakes and (water) storage reservoirs. Lakes take 3,4% from total territory. About 90% of them are high-altitude dams and closed lakes. Sary Chelek is situated on southwest slope of Chatkal range at the altitude 1873,9 m above the sea level, it is a biosphere reserve.
High-altitude lake Issyk Kul is situated inside of Tien Shan mountains, in the deep level of tectonic depression at the altitude 1606,7 m above the sea level. Lake is surrounded by mountains of Teskei – Ala Too on south and Kungei Ala Too on north, Issyk Kul lake differs from other lakes by geographical, climate and hydrologic conditions. Shape of lake is like trapezoid and faced by its base to the north. According to latest studies length of lake is 178 km, width – 60,1 km; area -6236 sq.km, shore length – 688 km, maximal depth – 669 m, average depth-278,4 m. Lake is extremely beautiful. That is why it is called “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan”
Transparency of water and bright shining sun changes color of Issyk Kul lake’s water from sky blue to dark blue tones. In winter time temperature of water: +4,2°С +5,0°. In July and August top level of water warmed up to: +18°С +24°С. Kyrgyzstan – one among biggest regions where exists system of modern mountain glaciers, total area of glaciers is 8100sq.km. or 4,2% from territory of Kyrgyzstan.
¾ of territory of glaciers belongs to river basin of Syrdarya river and Tarim river, their centre is situated in far west, in Sari Djaz basin where biggest valley of glaciers is situated (Southern Enilchek, length 60,5 km, Kayindi -29,0 km), and also Teskei Ala Too mountains, Kashaal Too, Ak Shairyk, Chon Alay mountains. In Tien Shan mountains we can see glaciers with flat top. Reservoir of drinking water is about 650 billion m3, it is about 12 river resources of all republic.
Main cities: Bishkek-capital city of the Kyrgyz Republic (approx. 900 000 population); Osh – south of Kyrgyzstan (approx. 300 000 population), Karakol – Issyk Kul Region (approx. 64 000 population). Another regional big cities: Naryn, Talas, Jalal Abad, Batken.
Climate: Climate- acutely continental climate, only in Issyk Kul ketlle it is near to maritime climate.
Average temperature in January -4оС -14оС, average temperature in July +17оС +38оС.
Access: Kyrgyz Air Ways (flight from/to Moscow, Istanbul, Hannover, Frankfurt, Deli.), Uzbekistan Air Lines, Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, Brittish Airways.
National Holydays:
1st January – New Year
7th January - Orthodox Christmas
21st March- Nooruz (New Year)
1st May- International Labour Day
5th May – Constitution Day
9th May- Victory Day
31st August- Independence Day
Islamic Holydays
“Orozo Ait”
“Kurman Ait”
Estimated by Lunar calendar and that days are days off work.
National Currency: Kyrgyz Som. One som contains 100 tiyin. Put into circulation on 10th May 1993. At the present Kyrgyz som presented by nominal bank notes: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000. Kyrgyz Republic is first country in C.I.S adopted own currency.
Local currency – sole official payment instrument, but US dollars and Euro also can be used in payments in hotels or in trekking and mountain climbing organizations.
Exchange: Foreign currency can be exchanged in commercial banks and in exchange bureau. Exchange operations better to do in capital city – in province rates are lower. Also, some of banks accept traveller's cheque but high commission applied. US dollar is widely accepted for exchange. Credit cards are accepted in banks and in some big hotels in Bishkek. Banks are working from 9:00 till 17:00, from Monday till Friday, Day off- Saturday, Sunday.
Visa system: Issue a visa for entering Kyrgyzstan done in diplomatic representations and consular sections of Kyrgyzstan abroad, in countries where diplomatic representation missed – in diplomatic missions and consular sections of Kazakhstan and Russian Federation.
Specifics of custom control: There is no limitation in bringing in or taking out of national and foreign currency. Single rule: All money must be declared. Goods which valued cost is not more than $5000 can enter without duty payment. Prohibited carriage of narcotics and drastic drugs (without prescription sustaining usage), weapon and armory, publications and video with content against Islamic norms. Prohibited taking out some kinds of nutrition products, minerals, mountain rocks without permission of appropriate authority (instance), gold (declared) and precious stones.
Shopping Stores: In Stores fixed prices, but on bazaar (market) prices are conventional. There are many bazaar in Bishkek city, where nutrition products and craftsmen goods are sold. Also, there are many art product sale markets-exhibitions, where you can buy on cheap price paintings and traditional Kyrgyz (manufactured) articles(wearing, carpets, chess, etc.)
Drinking water: In all stores can be found drinking water and mineral water in pet bottles. Kyrgyz Republic is one among a few countries with excellent natural drinking water which you can drink directly from taps of municipal water supply channels.
Medical Services: There are many hospitals, commercial and municipal in each city. Call of emergency 103 (medical emergency service is pay free)
Post and telephone: All telephone conversations charged. Post offices are in all settlements. Also, you can make a call in hotels, boarding houses, from your hotel room if you have direct line. But, it is cheaper and usable to call from public / pay telephones. Plastic cards are sold in all post offices and sale points of KYRGYZTELECOM. You can buy cards to bill GSM system telephones and use local telecom operator with local number. There are two phone systems in Republic: GSM and TDMA. International phone service-162, telegram by phone call – 106, long-distance telephone circuit- 107, automatic switching center directory inquiries-109.
Transport: In all kind of transport you shall pay in cash. City buses fare is about 0.1$, from Bishkek to the shore of Issyk Kul on bus cost 3.5$. Also, economic and comfortable fixed-run taxi minivan buses fare not more than 20-50% higher than of big buses. Usage of non fixed-run taxi in cities and between settlements is relatively expensive.
Sun: Sun can make bad surprise to the visitors and we recommend you to use protective / barrier cream in first days of your visit to avoid sun burn.
What is to wear: It is rather hot climate in summer in Kyrgyzstan, but humidity is not so high and you can bear heat well. You will feel comfortable in light wear from cotton and light materials. But, on Issyk Kul and in mountain weather is cold in evenings, so we recommend you to take with you blouson and sweater in long distance journey in evenings.
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