Geography of Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
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:
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:
Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (1993 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:
Geography - note:
landlocked
total:
198,500 km²
land:
191,300 km²
water:
7,200 km²
total:
3,878 km
border countries:
China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
lowest point:
Kara-Darya 132 m
highest point:
Jengish Chokusu[?] (Pik Pobedy[?]) 7,439 m
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
44%
forests and woodland:
4%
other:
45% (1993 est.)
note:
Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
party to:
Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements