Administrative StructureThe country is divided into 7 administrative provinces, called oblasts or dubans.

The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek (population 670,000). The other big cities are Osh (250,000), Tokmak (73,000), Kara Balta (54,000), Jalal-Abad (71,000) and Karakol (63,000).

Climate    The climate of this mountainous region is influenced by its distance from the sea and the sharp change of elevation from neighbouring plains. These factors create a distinctly continental climate that has some significant local variations. There are four main climatic zones in Kyrgyzstan:

1.    The valley zone (from 500-1,000m) is characterized by hot summer temperature, up to 28�C (82�F) and moderate cool winters. It rarely snows in these areas. Summer temperature generally ranges between 20�C (68�F) and 25�C (77�F), winter temperature falls between -4�C to -7�C (+19 to +25�F).
2.     The middle mountain zone (from 1,000-2,200m) enjoys a typical moderate climate with warm summer and cold steady snow during the winter. Average summer temperature in July is 18�C (64�F); average winter temperature in January is around -7�C (19�F).
3.     The high mountainous zone (2,200-3,500m). Summer is cool while winter is cold with a lot of snow. July temperature is about 15�C (59�F). Winter is long (November-March) with January temperature around -10�C (14�F). In the highest regions of this zone the period when water is not frozen is only around 3-4 months.
4.     Nival zone (from 3,500m and higher) is characterized by a very severe, cold climate. It is a zone of snows, rocks and glaciers. Even in the lower region of this zone the average July temperature does not exceed 7�C (45�F) and in January temperatures drop to -20�C (-4�F).

The lowest air temperature recorded in Kyrgyzstan - 53.6�C (-64.5�F) was registered in Ak-Sai valley at the height of 3,135m. Precipitation in Kyrgyzstan is non-uniformly distributed. There are areas that receive about 1,500 mm while others receive as little 150-200 mm. After around 3,500m precipitation increases. The country is generally sunny, receiving as much as 2,900 hours of sunlight per year in some areas.

When to Go:
At lower elevations, spring and autumn are probably the best seasons to visit weather-wise - in particular April to early June and September through October. In spring, the desert blooms briefly, while autumn is a harvest time when the markets are full of fresh produce.
Summer is ferociously hot in the lowlands, but July and August are the best months to visit the mountains. Cold rains begin in November and snow soon closes mountain passes.

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Clothing  Light-coloured cotton garments are the best for summer travel. A hat is a necessary accessory. Heat and dust make thick-soled walking shoes a better choice. In colder weather, bring warm boots and woollen layers. If you leave lowland for the mountains, prepare well for intense cold, strong winds and heavy snows.There are no special clothing requirements for visiting Islamic religious site except that you should take care to cover most parts of your body including arms and legs.A lavish display of jewellery, bulging handbags and wallets and a neck full of cameras will make you stand out in a crowd. Be discreet, respectful of local culture and traditions and carry the minimum of valuable. top

Communications   Communication system is ensured via a system of line and station facilities of post, telephone, telegraph, and tele-and-radio communication.Communication within the country is based on microwave radio-relay lines; one cellular provider, probably limited to Bishkek region. International communication is based on landline and microwave radio relay with the CIS countries; with other countries - on satellite and through Moscow international gateway switch; Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations: 1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik.

Crafts   The centuries-old artistic work of the Kyrgyz has developed under the conditions of a nomadic way of life. Alongside the ever-constant work of cattle breeding and agriculture, the people have been involved in various crafts.

Materials for making plates and dishes, horse saddles and harness - wool, leather, skins and wood - were procured on the spot. National masters have long supplied the local market with articles magnificent in beauty and simplicity. These items have been passed from one generation to the next, along with the secrets of their making.Fortunately, ancient traditions are not lost today. The traditional Kyrgyz handicrafts that are still practised by local craftsmen are rug and carpet making, jewellery making, leatherwork, wood turning, metal chasing and embossing etc.

Having a nomadic life-style, Kyrgyz people have used a material made of felt. As felt is very warm, it protects the Kyrgyz national dwelling (yurta), however it is also used to make felt rugs with coloured panels sewn on (shyrdak) or pressed on (alakiz), and wool tapestries.   top

Cuisine   The food eaten in Kyrgyzstan has developed from the subsistence diet of the nomads - mainly meat (including entrails), milk products and bread. The diet of the nomads is limited to mutton and noodles. The most traditional dishes are besh barmak (meat with noodles), a mutton stew, and roast lamb. For ceremonial meals, the lamb is killed without spilling its blood, and the head is served to the guest of honour, who slices portions of the eyes and ears and presents them to other guests to improve their sight and hearing. Horsemeat is eaten fresh and in sausages. Traditional beverages are kumys, fermented mare's milk, a mildly alcoholic drink, bozo - a thick yeasty concoction made from fermented millet. Tea is usually served without milk.

Nan is local flat bread, is baked in a tander, a beehive-shaped oven.
Dimlama steamed layers of meat and vegetables topped with cabbage.
Lagmen is a spicy noodle-based dish common to Central Asia
Mante steamed buns stuffed with meat and onions.
Shashlik (kebab) is usually made with lamb or mutton, occasionally with beef.
Pilov is a pilaf-like dish with bits of mutton and vegetables.
Fruits of all sorts are locally grown and are excellent, although fruits and vegetables are rare in the Kyrgyz cuisine. top

Culture   The Kyrgyz are associated with historical national epos Manas, an entire cycle of oral legends. The epos was created by the Kyrgyz people and is dedicated to the national hero Manas, who protected the Kyrgyz and his nation from ancient times. Manas is a genuine encyclopaedia, which accumulated the historic events, information on the society, traditions and mode of life. The Kyrgyz literature has traditionally been popularised in the form of songs, poems and stories by itinerant minstrels called akyn.

The development of music was closely connected with the art of bards. The most famous Kyrgyz instrument is the komuz (3 stringed lute). All the instruments like kyiak (string plucked instrument), temir komuz (jaw's harp), surnai (flute) are made of natural materials, produce sounds of nature, such as: singing of the birds, plashing of the mountain rivers, a breath of wind.

And still the Kyrgyz people enjoy a long tradition of story telling and singing accompanied by komuz.

Kyrgyzstan has two well-known living authors - Chinghiz Aitmatov and Kazat Akmatov. Chingiz Aitmatov, the republic's most prominent writer, became one of the best-known artists in the 1980s. Aitmatov�s works have been translated into English, German, French and other languages. Kyrgyzstan is endowed with the standard cultural facilities, including an opera, ballet, several theatre companies, and an orchestra, as well as museums. top

Customs   On entering the country tourist must fill in a customs declaration form, which must be retained until departure. This allows the import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and valuables which must be registered on the declaration form. Customs inspection can be long and detailed.

Duty Free: The following goods may be imported into Kyrgyzstan by travellers of 16 years or over without incurring the customs duty:
1000 cigarettes or 1000g of tobacco products; 1.5 litres of alcoholic beverages and 2 litres of wine; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use.
Prohibited imports: Military weapons and ammunition, narcotics and pornography, fruit and vegetables, live animals, photographs and printed matter directed against Kyrgyzstan, loose pearls and anything owned by a third party that is to be carried in for this third party. If you have any query regarding items that may be imported, information sheet is available on request from your tour operator.
Prohibited exports: As prohibited imports, as well as annulled securities, state loan certificates, lottery tickets, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), saiga horns, Siberian stag, red deer antlers (unless on organised hunting trip) and deer skins. top

Ecology   Kyrgyzstan is remarkable for its natural beauty, and from the point of view of ecology it differs from the neighboring states. Nevertheless Kyrgyzstan has been spared many of the enormous environmental problems faced by its Central Asian neighbours; it has serious problems because of inefficient use and pollution of water resources, land degradation, and improper agricultural practices.

The water utilisation is skewed heavily in favour of agricultural irrigation, 88% of total water consumption. The quality of drinking water from the ageing system is poorly monitored. The most important problems in land use are soil erosion and salinization in improperly irrigated farmland. An estimated 60% of Kyrgyzstan's land is affected by topsoil loss, and 6% by salinization.

In response to the internationally recognised environmental crisis of the rapid desiccation of the Aral Sea, the five states sharing the Aral Sea Basin (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) have been developing a strategy to end the crisis. Among the conditions detrimental to the Aral Sea's environment are erosion from deforestation and overgrazing, contamination from poorly managed irrigation systems, and uncontrolled waste from mining and municipal effluents.  top

Economy   Kyrgyzstan is the mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. The economic system of Kyrgyzstan is undergoing a slow, painful transition. Industrial production in Kyrgyzstan has declined significantly. Important factors in this decline were the energy crisis caused by the loss of Soviet-era fuel supply agreements and the outflow of skilled Russian industrial and management personnel, by a drop in effective demand and the economic weakness of trading partners.

The most valuable industrial components of Kyrgyzstan's economy are metallurgy, machine building, electronics, textiles and food processing centred in Bishkek, Osh, and Jalal-Abad. The most productive industry is electric power, which is produced in the numerous hydroelectric plants.Iron ore, copper, gold, lead, zinc, molybdenum, mercury, and antimony are mined.

Insignificant oil and natural gas deposits, and coal deposits are not fully exploited. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and electricity.
Agriculture accounts for about 40% of total economy and officially employs about one-third of the labour force. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. The chief crops are fodder crops, wheat, corn, barley, and cotton. Other agricultural products are sugar beets, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, potatoes and silk.

Main use of land is livestock raising. An estimated 83% of land in agricultural use is mountainous pastures. Livestock production accounts for about 60% of the value of the country's agricultural output; such production includes mutton, beef, eggs, milk, wool, and famous thoroughbred horses. top

Education Education is compulsory from the age of seven. Free education at the vocational, secondary specialised and higher levels also is offered by the state to qualified individuals.

There are 26 universities, 50 specialised high schools, 115 vocational training schools, and 1,884 comprehensive schools including 28 evening schools. The language of instruction remained predominantly Russian in the mid-1990s, although the use of Kyrgyz has increased yearly. Long-term plans call for a more Western style of university study, so that, for example, the universities began to offer a bachelor (B.Sc.) degree. There are 4 research institutes in the republic.

Emblem The Emblem of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan depicts the rising sun over a lake and Ala-Too Mountains, surrounded by a wreath of wheat and cotton earns. The white falcon is in the centre of the Emblem. Writing of "Kyrgyz" is at the top and "Respublicasy" is at the bottom of the emblem. top

Flag The State Flag of the Kyrgyz Republic is a red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes. In the centre of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylised representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurta - tiunduk. The life-giving sun is a symbol of eternal life; the tiunduk represents not only the stability of home, familiar ways of living, and centuries-old popular traditions, but also the deep philosophical unity of the heaven and the earth.

Geography   Kyrgyzstan with a total area of about 198,500 square kilometres is one of the smallest of the newly independent Central Asian states. The national territory extends about 900 kilometres from the east to the west and 410 kilometres from the north to the south. Kyrgyzstan borders on China in the southeast, in the north and west on Kazakhstan, and in the south and west on Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Nearly 94% of the country is mountainous. Only around the Chu, Talas and Ferghana valleys there is relatively flat land suitable for large-scale agriculture. The terrain of Kyrgyzstan is dominated by the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai mountain systems, which together occupy about 65% of the national territory. Kyrgyzstan's average elevation is 2,750 metres; the highest point is Peak Pobedy (7,439 m). The other highest peaks are Lenin (7,134 m) and Peak Khan-Tengry (7,010 m).

Kyrgyzstan is relatively well watered by the streams that descend from the peaks. None of the rivers of Kyrgyzstan are navigable, however. Most of them are small, rapid, runoff streams and are tributaries of the Syr-Darya. Kyrgyzstan has about 2,000 lakes; Lake Issyk-Kul (6,236 sq. km) is the country�s largest and the second largest body of water in Central Asia, after the Aral Sea.

The wide range of absolute heights, complex relief, protracted geologic development of the country and other factors resulted in the variety of natural conditions and the richness of natural resources. There's a reasonably good chance of seeing memorable beasts and plants here. Forests of Tian Shan spruce, larch and juniper provide cover for lynx, wolf, wild boar and brown bear. In summer, the wildflowers are a riot of colour. top

Health Public health care is free of charge. There are 15,354 doctors, or 34.2 per 10,000 people, some 588 outpatient clinics, 246 general and 20 specialised hospitals are in operation. Some private health facilities have developed recently.

Holidays

Public holidays include:
January 1 - New Year�s Day
January 7 - Russian Orthodox Christmas
March 8 - International Women�s Day
March 21 - Navruz ('New Day') - Ancient festival recently introduced in Kyrgyzstan. It can include traditional games, music festivals, street art and colourful fairs.
May 5 - Constitution Day
May 9 - Victory Day - Celebration of victory in the World War II 1941-1945, with military parades.
August 31 - Independence Day
September 1 - Day of Knowledge - The first day of school for students of all ages.

Important Muslim holidays, scheduled according to the lunar calendar, include:

Eid-ul-Fitr (or Orozo Ait), the celebrations marking the end of Ramadan - the month of sunrise to sunset fasting.
Korban Ait Islamic festival commemorating Ibrahim�s attempted sacrifice of his son on Mount Moriah where God supplied a sheep instead. The Kyrgyz people usually sacrifice a black sheep during this holiday. Families invite Islamic scholars to read passages from the Koran to family members. top

Language The ethnic identity of the Kyrgyz has been strongly linked to their language and to ethnic traditions, both of which have been guarded with particular zeal. The name Kyrgyz derives from the Turkic kyrk plus yz, a combination meaning "forty clans."

In the period after 840 AD, the Kyrgyz joined other Turkic groups. In this process, which lasted for more than two centuries, the Kyrgyz tribes became mixed with other tribes, thoroughly absorbing Turkic cultural and linguistic characteristics.

The Kyrgyz language, as it exists today, is a part of the Nogai-Kipchak division of the Turkic languages. The modern Kyrgyz language did not have a written form until 1923, at which time an Arabic-based alphabet was used. That was changed to a Latin-based alphabet in 1928 and to a Cyrillic-based one in 1940.

In the years immediately following the independence, another change of alphabet to Latin-based one was discussed, but the issue does not seem to generate the same passions in Kyrgyzstan that it does in other former Soviet republics in Central Asia. In March 1996, Kyrgyzstan's parliament adopted a resolution making Russian an official state language alongside Kyrgyz.

Money In 1993 Kyrgyzstan introduced its own national currency. The monetary unit is the som dividable into 100 tiyn. Currency code: KGS. Kyrgyzstan is effectively a cash-only zone. The local currency is the only legal tender, though in practice US dollars and Deutschmarks may be accepted or even requested for some transactions. There are currency exchange desks in most hotels and many shops. Most places accept only brand new banknotes. Banks change US dollars travellers' cheques into som, though licensed private moneychangers in shop fronts have slightly better rates for US dollars cash. Credit cards are not widely accepted, even in Bishkek. Operating hours for banks are 08.30-17.30 HRS. top

Political system Kyrgyzstan became an independent state on August 1991. According to the Constitution, which was adopted on May 5, 1993, Kyrgyzstan is a democratic republic, based upon the principles of separation of the powers into legislative, executive and judicial branches. The supreme power belongs to the President and to bicameral parliament. The parliament or the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council) established in 1994 consists of 105 members elected to five-year terms. The Government is the highest executive body of state power in the Kyrgyz Republic. It decides all issues of state governance, except for instructional and controlling powers vested in the President and the Jogorku Kenesh by the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who forms the Cabinet of Ministers. The Council of Ministers is nominally administering executive branch. Local regional governors carry out local executive authority.

The political parties may be freely formed in the Republic. There are about 15 active parties: The Kyrgyz Democratic Movement, the Asaba National Revival Party, Erkin Kyrgyzstan, the Republican National Party, etc.

Population    In 2000 the population of Kyrgyzstan was estimated at 4.7 million, of whom 52.4% were ethnic Kyrgyz, 18% were Russians, 13% were Uzbeks, 2.5% were Ukrainians, and 1.0% were Germans. The rest of the population was composed of about eighty other nationalities. About two-thirds of the population live in rural areas.

The population growth rate in 2000 was 1.43% and population density is 22.6 people per square kilometer. Early marriage and large family size have combined to make Kyrgyzstan's population a relatively young one. top

Religion The vast majority (75%) of today's Kyrgyz are Muslims of the Sunni branch, but Islam came late and fairly superficially to the area. The geographically isolated southern provinces tend to be more conservative than the industrialized, Russified north. Kyrgyz Muslims generally practice their religion in a specific way influenced by earlier tribal customs, which reinforce the north-south differences. The Russian population of Kyrgyzstan is largely Russian Orthodox (20%). The Uzbeks, who make up 13% of the population, are generally Sunni Muslims. Freedom of worship is practised.

Shopping For local handicrafts look at bazaars, street stalls, or museums, especially the Museum of Fine Arts. A good place for cheap Kyrgyz knick-knack is Central Department Store (SUM). You may find there Kyrgyz men�s hats - the familiar white felt kalpak or the fur-trimmed tebbetey, carpets and the brightly colored Kyrgyz felt-appliqué floor covering called shyrdaks for reasonable commission prices. Shops have fixed prices but bargaining in bazaars is expected. Shops are open 09.00-18.00.    top

State system On 31 August 1991, the Kyrgyz Supreme Council reluctantly voted to declare Kyrgyzstan�s independence. In 1990, Akayev was elected the president. On May 1993 a brand-new Kyrgyzstan constitution and government structure became law. Later bicameral parliament elected to five-year terms was established in 1994. Akayev and his economic programme got a solid popular vote of confidence in a referendum in January 1994.

Traditions   The Kyrgyz have retained a strong sense of cultural tradition. The Kyrgyz oral epic, Manas, a poem of several hundred thousand lines (many versions are recited) telling of the national Kyrgyz hero's struggles against invaders from the east is widely known. Many places in Kyrgyzstan, including the main airport, bear the name of this ancient hero, the 1000^th anniversary of whose mythical adventures was cause for great national celebration in 1995.

The Kyrgyz are classified as nomadic pastoralists, meaning that they traditionally have herded sheep, horses, or yaks, following the animals up and down the mountains as the seasons change. The basic dwelling is the yurta, a cylindrical felt tent easily assembled and disassembled and mounted on a camel or horse. Various parts of the yurta have ritual significance. Because the herding economy continues in many parts of the country, the yurta remains a strong symbol of national identity. Families living in Western-style dwellings erect yurts to celebrate weddings and funerals.

Family traditions demonstrate the patriarchal and feudal character of a nomadic people. Family relations are characterised by great respect for older family members and the dominance of male heads of households. Traditional celebrations of special events retain the markings of religious and magical rites. For example, the cutting of a child's umbilical cord is celebrated with elaborate consumption of food and humorous games. The naming of a child and the cutting of the child's hair are conducted in such a way as to appease supernatural forces. The full observance of the most important family event, the wedding celebration, requires considerable expense that relatively few Kyrgyz can afford; payment for a bride, dowry, animal sacrifice, and an exchange of clothing between the relatives of the bride and the groom. The Kyrgyz traditional eagle hunting is a very ancient form of hunting. The hunting with hounds and eagles is still one of the popular winter sport in Kyrgyzstan.

On summer Sundays you may see traditional Kyrgyz horseback games including udarysh (horseback wrestling), ulak-tartysh (a kind of no-rules polo played with a dead headless goat) and kesh-kumay or �kiss-the-girl� (in which a man chases a woman on horseback and tries to kiss her, or gets chased and whipped if he fails). Still during the Navrus festival and Kyrgyz Independence Day you can see these games as a part of the show in Bishkek. top

Transport Kyrgyzstan's transportation is poorly developed.

Air: Kyrgyzstan is not yet well connected by air. The national Kyrgyzstan Airlines operate direct flights from Bishkek to Delhi, Frankfurt, Hanover, Sharjah. Within the CIS, it also flies to Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Tashkent. Few international carriers such as Aeroflot Russian Airlines, British Airways, Chinese Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Uzbekistan Airways also serve Kyrgyzstan.
There are internal connections from Bishkek to Cholpon Ata, Karakol, Naryn and Osh. Access to the Central Tian Shan region is via helicopter, which takes climbers up to the Inylchek Valley. It is probably easier to get to Bishkek by flying into Almaty in neighbouring Kazakhstan and catching a bus for the three-hour ride to Bishkek. There is a regular bus service from the Almaty airport to Bishkek.
Rail: Rail transport plays a minor role, with a total of 370 kilometres of track, mostly in the north, providing links to Russia via Kazakhstan. Trains run from Bishkek a few times a week to Almaty, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow and Tashkent.
Road: Kyrgyzstan has 28,400 kilometres of roads, of which 22,400 are hard-surfaced. Bus system is well developed within the capital Bishkek and to cities elsewhere. Buses are the most frequent and convenient way to get between towns cheaply, and the best way to see what remains of the land of the nomads, though a long trip can be tedious and cramped. There are frequent buses between Bishkek and Tashkent and Almaty. A seasonal Chinese-run bus service links Bishkek and Kashgar via the Torugart Pass.
Urban transport: Most towns have public buses and minibuses operating on fixed routes. Taxis or private drivers are often willing to take travellers between cities. top