Kyrgyzstan: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia that is almost completely covered by mountains. The Tian Shan range, high pastures and clear mountain lakes shape its landscape. It is known for its nomadic traditions, horse games and yurts.

About Bishkek

Bishkek lies in the Chu River valley at the foot of the Kyrgyz mountains, about 750 to 900 metres above sea level. Known earlier as Pishpek and then Frunze, it has wide tree-lined streets, parks and orchards.

Fun facts about Kyrgyzstan

1. The Tian Shan mountains cover over 80% of Kyrgyzstan, and 94% of the country lies above 1,000 metres.
2. Issyk-Kul is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world and rarely freezes because its water is slightly salty.
3. The Epic of Manas, passed down by storytellers for centuries, is one of the longest epic poems in the world.
4. The sun on Kyrgyzstan's flag shows the tunduk, the wooden crown at the top of a yurt.
5. Sulaiman-Too, a sacred mountain rising above the city of Osh, was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyrgyzstan.
6. Arslanbob, in the Jalal-Abad Region, has one of the largest walnut forests in the world.