Geography of Kyrgyzstan
Location: | Central Asia, west of China |
Geographic coordinates: | 41 00 N, 75 00 E |
Map references: | Asia |
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 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: 6.55% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 93.17% note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 10,720 sq km (2003) |
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, Wetlands 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 |