Kyrgyzstan at present. The population of Kyrgyzstan and its ethnic composition

Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after. I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after A.I. I.K. Akhunbaeva is the leading higher medical educational institution of the Kyrgyz Republic with a 70-year history. For this ... Wikipedia

Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after. I.K. Akhunbaeva is the leading higher medical educational institution of the Kyrgyz Republic with a 70-year history. During this time, more than 30,000 doctors have been trained. The foundation of the higher medical school ... ... Wikipedia

Coordinates: 41°16′00″ s. sh. 74°59′00″ E / 41.266667° N sh. 74.983333° E etc. ... Wikipedia

Кызылсу Киргизский автономный округ (также автономная область; кит.: 克孜勒苏柯尔克孜自治州, пиньинь: Kèzīlèsū Kē ěrkèzī Zìzhìzhōu, кирг.: كىزىلسۋ كىزگىز اۆتونومييالى وبلاستى / Кызылсу Кыргыз aвтономиялы oбласты, уйг. قىزىلسۇ قىرغىز ئاپتونوم ئوبلاستى)… … Википедия

The Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyz Republic) is an independent state in Central Asia On August 31, 1991, during the collapse of the USSR, the independence of Kyrgyzstan was proclaimed. 03/20/1992, the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Russian ... ... Wikipedia

Rep ... Wikipedia

The Republic of Armenia has established diplomatic relations with 154 current UN member states. Currently, Armenia maintains diplomatic relations with 153 UN member states, as well as with UN observers: Saint ... Wikipedia

The state is located in Central Asia within the Pamir-Alai and Tien Shan mountain systems, which are separated by high mountain valleys and basins. It borders on Kazakhstan in the north, Uzbekistan in the west, Tajikistan and China in the south, and China in the east.

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the people - the Kyrgyz.

Official name: Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan)

Capital:

The area of the land: 198.5 thousand sq. km

Total population: 5.4 million people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 6 regions.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: The president.

Composition of the population: 64.9% - Kyrgyz, 13.8% - Uzbeks, 12.5% - Russians, 1.1% - Dungans, 1.0% - Ukrainians, 1.0% - Uighurs, 0.9% - Tatars, 0 9% - Kazakhs, 0.9% - Tajiks, 0.7% - Turks, 0.4% - Germans, 0.4% - Koreans, 0.3% - Azerbaijanis, 0.2% - Kurds.

Official language: Kyrgyz. The language of interethnic communication is Russian. Uzbek, Kazakh and Tajik languages are spoken in the western and northern regions of the country.

Religion: 75% are Sunni Muslims, 20% are Orthodox and representatives of other faiths.

Internet domain: .kg

Mains voltage: ~220 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +996

Country barcode: 470

Climate

Kyrgyzstan has a sharply continental climate, which is temperate in most of the territory, and subtropical in the Chui and Fergana valleys. The seasons are clearly defined. The length of the day in December is 9 hours, in June - 15 hours.

The remoteness from the oceans and the fact that the country's territory is mainly located in the mountains, at altitudes from 300 to 7000 m above sea level, have a strong influence on the climate. The deserts and plains surrounding Kyrgyzstan from the north, west and southeast make the differences in climate at different altitudes even sharper. Therefore, in Kyrgyzstan, vertical climatic zonality is clearly expressed, here 4 types of climate can be distinguished, which differ significantly from each other.

Firstly, the valley-foothill zone (500 - 1200 m), which is characterized by hot summers (average temperature in July during the day 30 ... 34 ° C) and moderate winters (average temperature in January during the day 2 ... -4...-7 С°). During the year, there is little precipitation (400-500 mm), mainly in spring and early summer, with a pronounced minimum in August and September. This zone is characterized by clear weather (180-240 sunny days per year). The absolute maximum air temperatures in summer reach 42...44 C°. Winter here is short, the average daily temperature below zero is observed from mid-November to mid-March.

The next, mid-mountain belt (1000 - 2200 m) has a typical temperate climate with warm summers (the average temperature in July during the day is 25 ... 28 C °) and moderately cold winters (the average temperature in January during the day is -2 ... -7...-10 С°), with a small amount of precipitation (200 - 400 mm), falling mainly in summer and accompanied by thunderstorms. Winter comes earlier - in mid-October, and lasts until March.

The high-mountain belt (2000 - 3500 m) is characterized by cool summers (the average temperature in July during the day is 18 ... 16 C °) and cold winters (the average temperature in January during the day is -5 ... -10, at night -15 ... -20 C°). The amount of precipitation depends on the orientation of the slopes; on the western slopes, the amount of precipitation can be 3 times more than on the eastern ones. Winter lasts from early October to April. Sometimes during the summer months the temperature can drop to 0 C°.

The latter, the eternal snow belt (above 3500 m) is characterized by very cold summers (the average temperature in July during the day is 4 ... 7, at night +1 ... -2 C °), and frosty winters (the average temperature in January during the day is -10. ..-14, at night -29...-35 C°), the frost-free period is only 3-4 months. Absolute minimum air temperatures are observed in winter (-45...-54 С°).

In the area of the non-freezing lake Issyk-Kul (1600 m), the air temperature is 3-5oC higher in winter than in other areas, and there is no sweltering heat in summer.

Geography

Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia. It borders Kazakhstan in the north, China in the east, Tajikistan in the south, and Uzbekistan in the west. Almost the entire small territory of the country (only 198,500 km2) contains mountain ranges.

The territory of Kyrgyzstan extends from west to east for 900 km, from north to south for 410 km and lies approximately between 39° and 43° north latitude. On the territory of the country there are 2 large mountain systems: Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai. They are separated from each other by the Fergana Valley, which has a unique natural and historical value. However, only a small part of it belongs to Kyrgyzstan.

The Kyrgyz Republic has a huge supply of water resources. There are more than 28,000 rivers and sources in the 7 largest river basins, 90% of which are 10 km long. Among the major rivers, the Naryn River with a length of more than 500 km should be noted.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

The vegetation of Kyrgyzstan is very diverse, with at least 1/4 of all endemic species. The Tien Shan is characterized by the presence of a forest belt of Tien Shan spruce, which is replaced higher by juniper thickets and subalpine meadows. Nut-bearing forests (from walnuts) have been preserved in some places in the northern mountainous frame of the Ferghana Valley. In the highlands, subalpine and alpine meadows are common, which have been used for many years as summer pastures for sheep.

At the highest levels of the relief, a subnival belt with stone placers and snowfields is widely developed. Herbaceous plants there are extremely few, mosses and lichens are common. Alpine meadows, located in the mountains at an altitude of 2500 - 3000 m, are rich in various herbs, rare flowers grow here - edelweiss, which have become for many a symbol of the mountains. In forests, steppes and meadows there are various types of mushrooms, some of them reach very large sizes.

In the foothills, ephemeral deserts, semi-deserts and dry steppes are common, higher up they are replaced by shrubs and light forests.

Animal world

Teke mountain goat, argali mountain sheep, snow leopard, stone marten, red wolf, gray and red mountain marmots live in the highlands. Roe deer, wolf, ermine, wild boar, lynx, brown bear, fox, and marten are common in the forest mountain belt. The steppe foothill regions and adjacent plains are characterized by numerous species of rodents, including the yellow ground squirrel, large jerboa, red-tailed gerbil, various reptiles, among ungulates - goitered gazelle, among birds - partridges, bustards, etc.

Attractions

The geographical position and natural resources of Kyrgyzstan determined its central position in the zone of developed Central Asian civilization. Since ancient times, the country has been a pass on busy trade routes between the West and the East.

Today, the development of tourism on the ancient Great Silk Road is not only a tribute to the rich history of the country, but also the discovery of half-forgotten pages of the past of all human civilization. Many travelers find Kyrgyzstan the most attractive, accessible and friendly region of all the Central Asian republics, especially considering the presence of beautiful natural monuments here - the Central Tien Shan and Pamir-Alay, the most beautiful mountains of Central Asia.

Banks and currency

Som (S, KGS), equal to 100 tyiyn. In circulation there are banknotes of 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 soybeans, as well as coins of 50, 10 and 1 tyiyn.

Som is the only legal tender on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic, although in practice US dollars and euros are accepted for payment or even required when paying for hotels or when organizing trekking and high-mountain ascents. The markets accept Russian rubles and currencies of neighboring Central Asian republics.

Banks are open from 9.00-9.30 to 17.00-17.30 from Monday to Friday, closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Currency can be exchanged at bank offices, currency exchange offices (usually open around the clock) and in many shops. Not only US dollars and euros are accepted for exchange, but also British pounds sterling, Russian rubles, Kazakh tenge, Uzbek soums, Chinese yuan and other types of currencies. It is preferable to exchange currency in the capital - in the provinces the rate is somewhat lower. When exchanging US dollars, it is recommended to have new banknotes on hand - the old rate is noticeably lower everywhere, even in government institutions.

Credit cards are accepted for payment in most banks and in some large hotels in Bishkek. Travel checks can be cashed at the offices of large banks, licensed exchange offices and some large stores in the capital, but the fees are quite high (3-7%). In the province, it is almost impossible to use non-cash means of payment.

Useful information for tourists

The state is practically not visited by foreign tourists.

Until now, Kyrgyzstan remains a little-known country for most foreigners. However, this country has an ancient nomadic history, picturesque Tien Shan mountains, Issyk-Kul lake, mineral and thermal springs, medieval caravanserais, and even ski resorts.

Geography

Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia. In the north, Kyrgyzstan borders on Kazakhstan, in the east - on China, in the west - on Uzbekistan, and in the southwest - on Tajikistan. There is no access to the sea. The total area of this country is 198,500 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 3,878 km.

More than 80% of the territory of Kyrgyzstan is located in the Tien Shan mountain system. In the southwest of the country there is the Pamir-Alay mountain system, and in the north and southwest there are the fertile Fergana and Chui valleys. The highest point is Pobeda Peak, whose height reaches 7,439 meters.

In the northeast in the Tien Shan mountains is Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest mountain lake in the world (Lake Titicaca is in first place).

Capital of Kyrgyzstan

The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek, which is now home to more than 900 thousand people. According to archeology, people lived on the territory of modern Bishkek from about the 7th century AD.

Official language

There are two official languages in Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz (has the status of a state language), belonging to the Kypchak group of Turkic languages, and Russian (has the status of an official language).

Religion

About 80% of the population of Kyrgyzstan profess Islam, and about 17% are Orthodox Christians.

State structure of Kyrgyzstan

According to the current Constitution of 2010, Kyrgyzstan is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected for 6 years.

The unicameral parliament in Kyrgyzstan is called the Supreme Council, it consists of 120 deputies elected for 5 years.

The main political parties in Kyrgyzstan are Ata-Jurt, SDPK, Ar-Namys, Respublika and Ata-Meken.

Climate and weather

The climate in Kyrgyzstan is very diverse, from sharply continental to maritime, due to the presence of mountains. The maritime climate is typical for the north-east of the country, where Issyk-Kul Lake is located. In the foothill towns in summer the average air temperature is +30-35C.

It is best to travel in the north of Kyrgyzstan from June to September, and in the south - from March to October. Traveling through the small mountains is best from April to June, when numerous flowers bloom there.

Mountain passes are blocked by snow from November to April (sometimes even May). The ski season starts in November and lasts until April.

Rivers and lakes

Several thousand rivers flow through the territory of Kyrgyzstan. Most of them are not big. The longest of them is the Naryn River, whose sources are in the Tien Shan mountains.

Issyk-Kul Lake, the second largest mountain lake in the world, is located in the northeast of Kyrgyzstan in the Tien Shan mountains.

culture

The culture of Kyrgyzstan is traditional for nomads. Islam had a significant influence on it, because. Kirghiz are Muslims. Until now, the Kyrgyz retain their ancient customs, especially in rural areas.

In order to really get to know the Kyrgyz culture, we recommend tourists to visit the jailoo in the summer (this is the name of the high mountain pasture in Kyrgyzstan, it is located at an altitude of 2500-3000 meters above sea level).

Kyrgyz celebrate Muslim holidays - Navrus, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha. All these and other holidays are accompanied by traditional Kyrgyz games, music, dance and theatrical performances.

Cuisine of Kyrgyzstan

The cuisine of Kyrgyzstan was formed under the influence of Uzbek, Russian, Chinese culinary traditions. The main food products are meat, rice, noodles, dairy products, vegetables. Meat occupies a central place in Kyrgyz cuisine. The fact is that the Kyrgyz used to be nomads, and therefore they did not grow vegetables and fruits (now the situation has changed, of course).

In Kyrgyzstan, we recommend tourists to try plov, shorpa soup, beshbarmak (lamb meat with noodles), Kuiruk-boor (boiled lamb), Kuurdak (small pieces of fried lamb or veal with onions and spices), Lagman (spicy stew with vegetables), "Manty" (steamed dumplings with lamb), "Oromo" (roll with meat or vegetables).

Traditional non-alcoholic drinks - tea, coffee, koumiss from mare's milk. Koumiss can be easily bought by travelers between May and August right on the side of the road.

Sights of Kyrgyzstan

According to official data, there are several thousand historical, architectural and archaeological monuments in Kyrgyzstan. So, only in the Issyk-Kul region there are more than 1500 historical monuments. The top 10 best Kyrgyz attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

Mausoleum of Kumbez-Manas
Ken-Kol burial grounds
Armenian monastery near Issyk-Kul
"Royal mound" in the Issyk-Kul region
Caravanserai Tash-Rabat in the mountains of the Tyag-Shan
Mausoleum of Shah-Fazil near Osh
Petroglyphs in the Saimaluu-Tash Gorge
Turkic statues of Kyr-Jol near Song-Kol Lake
Petroglyphs of Mount Suleiman
Madrasah of Osh

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Kyrgyzstan are Jalal-Abad, Karakol, Osh, Naryn, Balykchy, Naryn, and, of course, Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan has no access to the sea, but in this country there are many rivers and lakes. The largest lake is Issyk-Kul, which is a popular place for the Kyrgyz to relax in the summer. The swimming season lasts from May to October. In summer, the average water temperature in Issyk-Kul is +24C.

There are many sources of mineral and thermal waters in Kyrgyzstan. The most famous of them are the Ak-Suu, Alamudun and Issyk-Ata deposits.

In the Chui valley, there are Lugovskoye and Kamyshanovskoye weakly mineralized hydrogen sulfide deposits of therapeutic mud.

Because Since almost the entire territory of Kyrgyzstan is occupied by mountains, it is not surprising that this country has good opportunities for ski holidays. Good mountain centers are located near Bishkek and near Lake Issyk-Kul. The ski season runs from November to April.

Souvenirs/Shopping

You love vacation at sea?

You love trips ?

Would you like to do it more often ?

And you know that whilecan you earn more?

Your extra income 10,000 - 50,000 rubles per month working concurrently as a regional representative In your city You can start working without any experience...

… or just help your friends and acquaintances to choose profitable last minute tours online and save up for your vacation...

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kyrgyzstan

Description

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country in Central Asia. The country has preserved large territories, almost untouched by man. Its inhabitants still pass on the ancient traditions of nomads from generation to generation. The bulk of tourists to Kyrgyzstan are attracted by the rich flora and fauna, picturesque mountain lakes and rivers, mountain peaks covered with eternal snows and the unique flavor of Central Asia. The pearl of the country is the mountain lake Issyk-Kul. Of course, disorder and isolation from civilization can scare someone away, but without this, Kyrgyzstan will lose some of its attractiveness and mystery.

Kyrgyzstan or Kyrgyzstan is often called the Switzerland of Central Asia because of the unusually beautiful mountainous landscape of the Central Tien Shan. Most travelers find Kyrgyzstan to be the most attractive, accessible and friendly region of all the Central Asian republics.

Geography

The Kyrgyz Republic, a state in Central Asia. It borders with Kazakhstan in the north, China in the east and southeast, Tajikistan in the southwest and Uzbekistan in the west. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country. Most of Kyrgyzstan is part of the Tien Shan mountain system. The mountain ranges occupy about a quarter of the territory and extend in parallel chains mainly in the latitudinal direction. In the east, the main ranges of the Tien Shan converge in the region of the Meridional Range, creating a powerful mountain junction. And only the extreme southwest belongs to the Pamir-Alay. Between the ridges of Kyungoy-Ala-Too and Terskey-Ala-Too there is an intermountain depression.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the largest regions in which there is a system of modern mountain glaciers, their total area occupies 8100 km2 or 4.2% of the country's territory.

There are more than 3,000 lakes within Kyrgyzstan, including the picturesque Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the deepest in the world (maximum depth 668 m). Large rivers - Chu, Naryn and Talas - originate in the highlands.

Time

3 hours ahead of Moscow. There is no transition to winter and summer time.

Climate

Due to the strong ruggedness of the relief on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, the climatic conditions are rather heterogeneous - in the highlands of the Tien Shan, the weather has all the signs of a subpolar climate, in the southwestern regions (Fergana Valley) - subtropical, and in the northern foothills the climate is almost temperate. A characteristic feature is the dryness of the air over the entire territory of the country, due to which there are an average of 247 sunny days a year.

Average January temperatures range from -2° to -8° C in the valleys and from -8° to -20° C in the mid-altitude mountains. In the highlands, the average January temperatures are approx. -28 ° С. In many regions of Kyrgyzstan, except for the highlands, there are often thaws in winter. Summers are hot and dry, with average July temperatures in the valleys of 20-27°C, in the middle mountains 15-17°C, and in the highlands 5°C and below.

The annual rainfall ranges from 180 mm in the east of the country to 600 mm in the southwestern regions. The maximum amount of precipitation falls at the beginning of summer and in the autumn-winter period. Moreover, by the middle of winter, the thickness of the snow cover on the western slopes of the mountains can reach up to 1 meter, and in the highlands, snow lies all year round.

Language

The Kyrgyz language (Kyrgyz Tili) is the state language of Kyrgyzstan, belongs to the Turkic languages (Kypchak group of languages). Writing based on the Russian alphabet.

The Kirghiz language is spoken in the Kirghiz SSR, as well as in the Uzbek SSR, the Tajik SSR, the Kazakh SSR (the number of speakers is over 1.4 million), in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC, and Afghanistan.

Religion

The majority of the population of Kyrgyzstan professes Islam. Islam is represented by two schools (madhhabs) of the Sunni direction, united in one religious organization - the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, headed by the mufti. There are more than 2,000 mosques, 20 madrasas, and Islamic institutions in the country. The theological faculty operates at Osh State University.

The second largest number of parishioners is the Orthodox Church. There are 42 Russian Orthodox churches and an Orthodox school registered in Kyrgyzstan. Christmas, along with Muslim holidays, is declared a non-working day in Kyrgyzstan.

The total number of believers: Sunni Muslims - 46%, Orthodox - 18%.

Other confessions are also represented in the country - such as Buddhism, Judaism and others, but the number of their parishioners is very small.

Population

The population of Kyrgyzstan is about 5.2 million people. The core of the population of Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyz - a people belonging to the Turkic group. The Kyrgyz live throughout the country and predominate in most rural areas. In addition to them, a significant part of the population is made up of Tajiks, Uighurs, Dungans and others. Among them, only slightly more than 1% are Russians and representatives of Russian-speaking diasporas.

Most of the population is concentrated in the valleys - Chui on the border with Kazakhstan and Ferghana on the border with Uzbekistan, the valleys of the Naryn and Talas rivers, as well as in the Issyk-Kul basin.

Electricity

Emergency Phones

101 - Fire Department

102 - Police

103 - Ambulance

104 - Gas emergency service

Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations - 161

Bishkek city information office - 262-317

Bishkek telephone information - 109

Russian Embassy in Bishkek, st. Razzakova, 17 - 62-47-38

Connection

Cellular communication of the GSM 900/1800 standard is developing extremely rapidly throughout the country. Coverage is limited to the capital and other major cities, but the network is expanding rapidly. The largest operators are Bitel Ltd (MEGACOM, code 502) and AkTel (CDMA, code 543).

The telephone system of Kyrgyzstan is controlled by the state company KyrgyzTelecom (www.kt.kg), which offers a full range of communication services. Street pay phones work with two types of phone cards, which can be purchased at shops, tobacconists, post offices and post offices. In addition, cellular communications, IP-telephony and network services are actively developing in the country. Internet cafes can be found in major cities and resorts. In the mountains, only satellite communications are available.

To call Kyrgyzstan, you need to dial 8 - 10 - 996 - area code - phone number.

To call Russia, you need to dial 007 - area code - phone number.

Codes of some cities: Batken - 3622, Bishkek - 312, Jalal-Abad (Jalal-Abad) - 3722, Kant - 3132, Karakol (Przhevalsk) - 3922, Min-Kush - 3559, Naryn - 3522, Osh - 3222, Talas - 3422, Tash-Kumyr - 3745, Toktogul - 3747, Tyup - 3945, Uzgen - 3233, Chui-Tokmok - 3138.

Currency exchange

The national currency of Kyrgyzstan is the som (S, KGS). One sum is 100 tiyins. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 soms, as well as 1, 10, and 50 tyin. Coins in the country are not in use.

Banks in Kyrgyzstan are open from 9.00-9.30 to 17.00-17.30 from Monday to Friday, the day off is Saturday and Sunday.

Currency can be exchanged at bank offices, currency exchange offices (usually open around the clock) and in many shops. Not only US dollars and euros are accepted for exchange, but also British pounds sterling, Russian rubles, Kazakh tenge, Uzbek soums, Chinese yuan and other types of currencies. It is preferable to exchange currency in the capital - in the provinces the rate is slightly lower. When exchanging US dollars, it is recommended to have new banknotes on hand - the old rate is noticeably lower everywhere, even in government institutions.

Visa

For Russians, entry into Kyrgyzstan does not require a visa. At the same time, for citizens of Russia, entry into the territory of Kyrgyzstan is possible only upon presentation of a passport and registration with the internal affairs bodies at the place of stay. Registration is valid for 3 months.

Citizens of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as citizens of non-CIS countries, with the exception of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Cuba, North Korea, Macedonia, Malaysia (stay up to 1 month), Mongolia (stay up to 3 months), Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey (stay up to 1 month), Croatia and the Czech Republic, a visa is required to visit the Kyrgyz Republic.

If necessary, a visa can be obtained at the consulate or embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic. Citizens of the EU countries, USA, Canada and Israel can obtain a visa on arrival at the Manas airport in Bishkek.

Kyrgyz visas are of various types, depending on the purpose and duration of the applicant's stay in Kyrgyzstan: short-stay visa (type C), transit visa (type A and B), national visa (type D).

The most common Kyrgyz visas are the first type, namely the "short-stay visa type C". Such visas are tourist, business and guest - depending on the purpose of the applicant's trip to Kyrgyzstan.

Customs regulations

As a guest of Kyrgyzstan, usually at the airport, you must complete customs declarations. You must keep one copy of the declaration with you and keep it for the entire duration of your stay in Kyrgyzstan.

There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currency (all money and jewelry must be declared). The declaration must be kept before leaving the country.

Duty-free import is allowed: 2 liters of alcoholic beverages (persons under 21 years old), 200 cigarettes, motor gasoline, not counting fuel in the factory containers of these products, 20 liters for each motor vehicle moving under its own power; tyres, tires and tubes for tires for passenger cars - 2 pcs.; clothes made of genuine leather - 1 item (set); fur clothes - 1 item (set); carpets - 2 pcs.; hats made of natural fur - 1 item; crystal products - 3 items or 1 set (service); jewelry and other products made of precious metals, as well as products made of natural or cultured pearls - 2 items; audio and video equipment, televisions, refrigerators and other household appliances - 1 subject each; furniture - 1 set.

The import of drugs and strong medicines (without a prescription confirming the need for their use), weapons and ammunition, combustible and explosives, printed materials and video materials directed against the state system of Kyrgyzstan, as well as animals, fruits and vegetables without the appropriate permission of the Sanitary and country veterinary service.

It is forbidden to export certain foodstuffs, minerals and rocks without the permission of the relevant authorities, gold (declared) and precious stones.

Holidays and non-working days

Muslim holidays "Orozo Ait" and "Kurman Ait" are determined by the lunar calendar and are non-working days.

Transport

Near the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, is the international airport "Manas". Local planes fly from Bishkek to Osh (2 flights a day), to Batken (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays) and Jalal-Abad (on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays). Local air tickets cost about 2000 soms each.

Due to the mountainous terrain, the development of rail transport is limited. The length of the railways is approx. 370 km. They are a continuation of the railways of neighboring states and in the north follow from Kazakhstan to Bishkek and further to Balykchy (formerly Rybachye) on the northwestern coast of Issyk-Kul, and from Uzbekistan to Osh and Jalal-Abad in the east of the Ferghana Valley. The main mode of transport is automobile. Road length - approx. 40 thousand km. The greatest density of their network is in the north, in the basin of Lake Issyk-Kul, and in the Ferghana Valley. Several strategically important roads have been laid in the Tien Shan mountains.

Fixed-route and private taxis remain the main way to travel around the country, their prices are moderate, usually the price is negotiated with the driver. You can ride them both in large cities and between cities. Often, this is the only way to get to the desired location.

Tips

Tips in Kyrgyzstan are included in the price of dishes, are strictly fixed (5-10 soms) or make up a certain percentage of the total order (usually 5-10%). But in general, here, in accordance with the Islamic canons of hospitality, tips are not accepted. In stores, prices are fixed and quite reasonable. It is possible and necessary to bargain in bazaars and markets, but it is quite difficult to bring down the price by more than 30%.

The shops

Shops are usually open from 08.00 to 17.00, some until 20.00, it is recommended to visit the markets in the morning, and the earlier the better. In most retail outlets in the country, prices are rigidly fixed, but it is customary to bargain in bazaars and private stores. Bazaars are the best place to experience local life. Here you can buy almost everything - from luxurious carpets and silks to fruits and spices, from traditional local crafts to clothes and shoes.

National cuisine

The cuisine of Kyrgyzstan, like any other Central Asian cuisine, is based on the wide use of meat, mainly lamb. Beshbarmak (finely chopped boiled meat of a young lamb, poured with broth and mixed with rectangular-shaped noodles boiled in this broth) and a thin oriental dish kulchetai (mutton boiled in large pieces, which are cut into wide thin slices, eat together) are prepared from it. with pieces of thinly rolled, boiled dough cut into squares), and the interpenetration of the cultures of Asian peoples replenished the culinary of Kyrgyzstan with shurpa and lagman.

Kyrgyz cuisine is related to Kazakh and has inherited many features of the common nomadic past of both peoples. Most dishes of Kyrgyz and Kazakh cuisine are completely identical to each other and are very similar or even the same in name. Characteristic features are the widest use of rice and spices, and boiled rather than fried meat is almost exclusively used, local chefs have special respect for horse meat (it used to be the most popular type of meat in the local diet), all kinds of dough dishes, sour-milk products and thick porridge-like soups, vegetables, especially radishes, turnips and legumes. Recently, horse meat has been replaced by beef and lamb, many borrowed recipes have appeared, but the Kyrgyz still prefer their ancient recipes.

Sausage made from horse meat with fat - chu-chuk is considered a delicacy.

Local cuisine in Kyrgyzstan is cheap and plentiful, European food is more expensive. The meal is usually served with cakes and tea in teapots, green or black. Tips in Kyrgyzstan are included in the price of dishes and are strictly fixed (5-10 soms) or make up a certain percentage of the total order (usually 5-10%). In the early days, you should be more careful, because traditional cuisine is dominated by fatty and heavy foods, which are unusual for Europeans.

A large place in the Kyrgyz national cuisine is occupied by flour products: biscuits such as brushwood (choimo tokoch), puff pastry (zhupka), which are put in hot milk and flavored with butter and cottage cheese, puff pastry in butter, sometimes with cream (kattama), fried in butter cakes, pancakes, etc. The favorite delicacy of the Kirghiz is also prepared from flour - boorsok - chopped pieces of rolled dough overcooked in oil. It should be noted that flour products are consumed mainly with tea.

The majority of Kyrgyz people prefer green "brick" tea. It is often cooked with milk, salt, pepper and flour fried in butter ("kuurma-choy") or milk, butter, salt and sour cream are added to get "atkan-choy" and "shir-choy" (with ayran). In southern Kyrgyzstan, green tea is preferred, and in the north, around the capital, black tea of a completely European look is in high demand.

From alcoholic drinks, locals prefer "dzarma" and "bozo" - drinks similar to beer made from barley and millet. Beer, vodka and brandy, both local and imported, are readily available in restaurants and shops.

Attractions

Kyrgyzstan has a rich history dating back to ancient times. There are more than 5,000 archaeological and architectural monuments of historical significance on the territory of the republic.

The geographical position of Kyrgyzstan, its remoteness from the seas and proximity to the deserts of Central and Central Asia, the significant elevation of the territories above sea level and the strong dissection of the relief predetermined the exceptional diversity and diversity of natural complexes. These are mountain rivers, picturesque alpine lakes, a variety of grandiose waterfalls, the highest peaks and peaks, bizarre rocks, numerous gorges, passes, healing springs, mysteriously tempting caves.

The beautiful Chui Valley is famous for its mountain rivers and extremely diverse natural and territorial complexes.

In the vicinity of the capital there are such natural objects as the beautiful Chunkurchak gorge in the upper reaches of the Alamedin River, the nearby Alamedin thermal water deposit, the Chon-Aryk State Botanical Reserve in the Besh-Kyungey tract, the picturesque natural gorges of Kara-Balta, Aspara, Dzhilamish and Kegeti with its famous waterfall.

Nowhere else on the territory of Central Asia is there such a number of outlets of medicinal waters as in the Chui valley.

The sights of Kyrgyzstan are largely associated with civilizations that lived in this territory before the Kyrgyz. This is confirmed by the unique Buran settlement, where you can admire the thousand-year-old 20-meter tower, which was twice as high before the earthquake that damaged it. In addition to the tower, ruins of buildings and sections of the double fortress wall remained in the settlement. A number of reserves have been created, as well as the natural national park Ala-Archa.

Kyrgyzstan attracts tourists not only with the comfort of its hotels near Issyk-Kul and in cities, but also with its geographical location and financial availability.

Resorts

Ak-Suu The mineral water deposit is located in the gorge of the same name, 80 km. southwest of the village of Belovodskoye. The local mineral water belongs to carbonic low-mineralized, hydrocarbonate magnesium-calcium narzan, and in its chemical composition it is similar to the mineral water of the famous Siberian resort Dara-Suna.

Lake Issyk-Kul incredibly beautiful. The Russian traveler P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, who visited the lake, compared it with Lake Geneva in Switzerland, and preferred Issyk-Kul. Issyk-Kul has long been considered enchanted by the local population. Before the arrival of Russian settlers here at the end of the 19th century, practically no one swam or fished in it. The great transparency of the rivers flowing into the lake and the bright sun change the color of the Issyk-Kul water from pale blue to dark blue tones, depending on the place and time of day. There are about 20 picturesque bays and coves here. The swimming season lasts 6 months. The water temperature in summer reaches +24 C, in winter - +4 C. Crystal clear water, mineral springs, combined with mountain and at the same time mild, almost maritime climate, create unique conditions for a spa holiday with mud and thermal treatment.

Ski base "Karakol"(2300 m) is located in the gorge, 7 km from the city of Karakol. The season is from the end of October to the end of April. At the base there are 7 lifts, ski and snowboard rental, services of instructors and guides through the winter forest. You can ride snowmobiles. The base is regularly used by the sports school for training.

Ski center "Kashka-Suu" located in a wide tract on the northern slopes of the Kirghiz Range. To Bishkek - 35 km. Altitude above sea level - 2000 m. 6 slopes with a height difference from 260 to 380 m, chairlift and towing cable cars. On the territory: a skating rink, a billiard room, a sauna, a bar and a cafe. There is equipment rental, instructor services are provided. The tracks are processed by snow groomers, but there are quite a lot of small stones on the slopes, which can create difficulties when skiing on snow that is not fresh.

Karakol, lying at the eastern end of the lake, is the main city in the region and the best "base" for exploring the lakeside, Terskey-Alatau and the central Tien Shan. This is a relatively small city, famous for its apple orchards and Sunday market - one of the best in Central Asia. In Karakol, it is better to rent accommodation from local residents (at the bus station you will be offered a wide variety of options for a small price) than in an official hotel. This will allow you to "directly" get acquainted with the life of the city and the life of local residents, and will also remove many everyday issues, since the Issyk-Kul lake area has long been closed to foreigners, and many issues related to staying here are still regulated enough. not clear.

Despite the fact that Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, it can be considered a resort. Moreover, both skiing (Chontash station) and balneological (thermal springs).

Due to the fact that about 93% of the territory of Kyrgyzstan is occupied by mountains, there are excellent conditions for skiing. Snow lies from November to March, and in the highlands it is year-round. The weather in the area of most mountain resorts is usually mild, with a lot of sunny days, so the ski season lasts from late October - December to early April, and skiing on ice fields is possible all year round.

Tourist center "Oruu-Sai"(2100 m) is located in the tract of the same name, 35 km from Bishkek. Trails of different difficulty levels are served by three cable cars. There is a rental of equipment, instructors work, skiing competitions for different age groups are held. A comfortable hotel with a sauna, a bar, a restaurant, and table tennis has been built in the tourist center.

Geography and climate

Kyrgyzstan is located within the Tien Shan mountain ranges (the highest point is Pobeda Peak, 7439 m) and Pamir-Alay. More than 90% of the territory lies at altitudes above 1500 m above sea level. Mountain peaks are often covered with glaciers, the largest of which are the Southern and Northern Inylchek, Kaindy. Mountain ranges are separated by valleys and basins (Issyk-Kul, Chui, Fergana).

The main rivers are Naryn, Chu, Talas. The rivers of Kyrgyzstan are used as routes for rafting. There are many large and small lakes (about 3000), among which the “pearl of the Tien Shan” stands out - Lake Issyk-Kul. The climate is continental: average temperatures in January are from -1 to -8 °C in the valleys and up to -27 °C in the highlands, in July - 15–27 ° and 5 °C, respectively. The annual rainfall ranges from 180 mm in the east to 1000 mm in the southwest. Air temperatures on the coast of Issyk-Kul are less contrasting and moderate all year round.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation of Kyrgyzstan is diverse (4 thousand species of plants) and is distinguished by a pronounced altitudinal zonality: the foothills are covered with semi-deserts and dry steppes with fragments of pistachio woodlands, above 1200 m above sea level a forest belt begins. Forests are formed by Tien Shan spruce, fir, juniper. The highlands (above 3000–3500 m) are covered with alpine meadows.

The fauna protected in the Issyk-Kul and Sary-Chelek reserves, Ala-Archa National Park, is represented in mountain forests by bear, lynx, wolf, wild boar, marten, snow leopards, mountain goats and rams, numerous small mammals and birds, and in treeless foothills - mainly rodents, birds, reptiles. The Kirghiz, although they have ancient and rich cultural traditions, like most peoples who developed as nomadic pastoralists, do not have any significant architectural monuments.

Story

The most ancient traces of human habitation on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, found in the Central Tien Shan (near Lake Issyk-Kul) and in the Ferghana Valley, date back to the Paleolithic. Paleolithic tools were also found in the south, in the Kapchigay region. Neolithic settlements were discovered in the vicinity of Bishkek and Naryn. In the caves in the valley of the Sary-Dzhaz river, rock carvings of animals were found. The tribes that lived here in the 5th-3rd millennium BC made stone tools, pottery, used bows and arrows. By this time, the beginning of cattle breeding and agriculture. Later, in the Bronze Age, tools made of bronze and then copper were increasingly used. Separate groups of farmers and pastoralists lived in different regions of Kyrgyzstan.

The economic structure and social structure of the population underwent significant changes in the 7th–6th centuries. BC. The use of iron tools and weapons is widespread, nomads unite and form tribal unions, agricultural communities use slave labor. The first of the known associations of tribes, the Saks, formed in the north of the territory under consideration and existed from the 7th to the 3rd centuries. BC. Later, in the 2nd c. BC, part of the Saka and Massaget tribes entered into a tribal union led by the Usun tribe, which lasted until the 5th century. AD In the 2nd century BC. the southern regions became part of the state of Parkan, and from the 1st to the 4th c. AD they were under the rule of the Kushan kingdom.

At the beginning of the 8th c. AD political power was in the hands of the Türgesh confederation of Turkic tribes, and in the middle of the century these lands were seized by the Karluk tribal union. During this period, the number of cities and other settlements in the valleys of the Chu and Talas rivers increased. Farmers began to actively trade not only with nomadic tribes, but also with large caravans that followed through the valley of the Chu River along the Silk Road from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia. It was at this time that the Kirghiz first appeared here.

The first written mention of the Kirghiz refers to 569. It is reported that this year the Byzantine ambassador received a slave - a Kirghiz as a gift. The Kyrgyz tribes are also mentioned as allies of the Turks in their unsuccessful campaigns against the Uighurs in the 8th-9th centuries. At the beginning of the 13th c. The Kirghiz were conquered by the Mongols and only in 1399 regained their independence.

In the 16th century some Kyrgyz tribes became dependent on the Mongols, others submitted to the Kazakhs. For several centuries, the Kirghiz were in the power of various neighboring peoples. In the middle of the 18th century the Kirghiz formed certain tribal relations, which persisted into the 20th century. At the head of each clan was an elder - aksakal (white beard). The elders of the various clans of the tribe were part of the tribal council. Small tribes were led by chiefs - manaps.

At the beginning of the 19th century The Kirghiz became dependent on the Kokand Khanate. The Kirghiz sought to free themselves from the yoke of the khans; spontaneous uprisings broke out in different parts of the country: in 1842-1843 - in the Issyk-Kul region, in 1845 - in the vicinity of Osh, uprisings of the Talas and Chui Kirghiz took place in 1857-1858, the largest broke out in 1873-1876.

The accession of the Kyrgyz lands to Russia began in the mid-1850s. The Russian army, followed by settlers from the European part of Russia, seized the best and most fertile lands. In 1867 northern Kirghizia was included in the Semirechensk region of Russia, and in 1876 the southern part of the country became part of the Syrdarya and Fergana regions.

In the period from 1903 to 1913, the population of Kyrgyzstan decreased by about 7-10%, and the number of herds - by 27%. Uprisings against Russia took place in Andijan in 1898 and 1916. As a result of the suppression of these uprisings, the Kirghiz population decreased by about 30-40% (some died, some were forced to emigrate to Chinese Turkestan or Afghanistan), and the livestock decreased by 60-70%.

After the Russian revolution of 1917, two political organizations of Kyrgyzstan united in the struggle for national independence - the Shura-i-Islam group (Council of Islam) and the nationalist party Alashorda. However, in April 1918, the central government of the Bolsheviks, whose emissaries conducted intensive agitation among the Kirghiz population of mining towns and cities, announced the entry of Kyrgyzstan into the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Detachments of the Basmachi provided armed resistance to the Soviet regime, but failed to achieve serious success. The final suppression of resistance occurred at the end of 1920.

The Soviet government made significant changes in the life of the Kirghiz. In 1917 equality between men and women was proclaimed, and in 1921 polygamy and bride price (bride price) were prohibited by law. In 1924 Kirghizia was separated into a separate Kara-Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast. In May 1925, the region was renamed Kirghiz, and in February 1926 received the status of the Kirghiz ASSR.

In the 1920s and 1930s, there was a rapid development of industry in Kyrgyzstan. By 1940, the coal mines of Kirghizia produced 88% of all coal used in Central Asia. Non-ferrous metallurgy, the production of antimony and mercury, the food industry (sugar production), and some branches of light industry also developed. Beginning in 1929, the collectivization of agriculture was carried out, which had previously been in the hands of semi-nomadic tribes and clans. Opponents of collectivization - rich pastoralists and landowners (bays) - were persecuted, killed, and imprisoned; some were deprived of their property and doomed to starvation. By 1941, there were approx. 300 thousand livestock collective farms.

As a result of Stalin's repressions, which peaked in 1936-1938, the scientific and creative intelligentsia and Muslim clergy were almost completely destroyed. During the repressions, books and manuscripts in Arabic were destroyed.

The industrialization of Kyrgyzstan continued in parallel with the development of agriculture and after the Second World War. In the early 1980s, a movement arose to establish contacts with the Kyrgyz living in other parts of the USSR, China and Afghanistan.

The democratic movement began in Kyrgyzstan in 1990. In October 1990, the democratic coalition succeeded in holding elections in which the first president of Kyrgyzstan was elected. On August 31, 1991, less than two weeks after the putsch in Moscow, the government declared the independence of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Kyrgyzstan faced economic difficulties associated with the transition to a market economy, and interethnic conflicts escalated. Relations with the Uzbek minority worsened: inter-ethnic clashes took place in the Osh region. Similar speeches took place in neighboring Tajikistan in relation to the Kyrgyz minority.

Economy

In 2004, the combined GDP reached only $2.4 billion, or $430 per capita. Kyrgyzstan is the second poorest country in the region after Tajikistan. More than half of the population is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.

At the beginning of February 2005, the Kyrgyz external public debt reached $1.92 billion. During 1990-1996, the Kyrgyz economy almost halved, mainly due to the shutdown of industrial enterprises in the north of the country after the mass departure of skilled Russian workers. Industry provides only a quarter of the Kyrgyz GDP. According to observers, the industry in agrarian Kyrgyzstan was artificially created in Soviet times and can hardly be restored. Approximately 40% of industrial production comes from gold mining - the only actively developing industry in the republic (in 2003, Kyrgyzstan mined 22.5 tons of gold, ranking third in the CIS after Russia and Uzbekistan).

In Kyrgyzstan, according to various estimates, more than 70% of state-owned enterprises have been privatized. Most large enterprises were controlled by the relatives of the first President Akaev (see more).

Controlling stakes in the holdings of the energy sector of Kyrgyzstan - OJSC "Electric Stations" and OJSC "Kyrgyzneftegaz" - are state-owned.

Population

The population of Kyrgyzstan is 5.05 million people (data of current statistics for 2006). This is significantly more than lived in the country in 1959 (2.065 million), 1970 (2.935 million), 1979 (3.523 million), 1989 (4.258) and 1999 (4.823) years. Until the 1960s, the population of the republic grew rapidly due to migration and natural increase, which was especially significant among rural Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and other Central Asian peoples. The main source of population growth in the country after the 1970s was a gradually decreasing natural increase with an increasing migration outflow of the Russian and Russian-speaking population.

The core of the population of the republic - 69.5% - are Kyrgyz. The Kyrgyz live throughout the country and predominate in most rural areas. Russians make up 9% of the population, most of them live in cities. Uzbeks who make up 14.5% of the population are concentrated mainly in the Osh region. Of the other ethnic groups with significant numbers, mention should be made of Dungans, Ukrainians, Germans, Tatars, Jews, Kazakhs, Uighurs and Tajiks.

Among those who left the country after 1991, the majority were Russians, representatives of other Slavic peoples, as well as Germans and Jews. The Kyrgyz, who at first intensively moved to the country from neighboring Tajikistan and China in the first years of independence, after 2000 intensively leave it, mainly for economic reasons, to the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan (see guest workers).

The main part of the population of the south of modern Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz (majority) and Uzbeks. In addition to them, a significant part of the population is made up of Tajiks, Uighurs, Dungans, etc. Among them, only a little more than 1% are Russians and representatives of the Russian-speaking diasporas.