Kyrgyzstan

Capital - Bishkek

- Landlocked country, bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east

- Independence day 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Fun Facts

- the world's largest natural-growth walnut forest (2005)
- 80% of the country is covered by Tian Shan mountains so is occasionally referred to as "the Switzerland of Central Asia". Valleys and basins covers the remaining portion.
- Lake Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca
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