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: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (2001)
other: 92.35% |
| 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 |
| Geography - note: | landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
Source: CIA World Factbook
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