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Location:
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Central Asia, west of China
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Geographic coordinates:
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41 00 N, 75 00 E
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Map references:
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asia
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Area:
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total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than South Dakota
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
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Terrain:
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peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
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Natural resources:
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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
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Land use:
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arable land: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (2001)
other: 92.35%
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Irrigated land:
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10,740 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
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