Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in
southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan rise to 7,000 meters, and associated
valleys and basins encompass entire nation
Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; 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: arable land: 7% permanent crops: NEGL% meadows and pastures: 42% forest and woodland: 0% other: 51%
Irrigated land: 10,320 sq km (1990)
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
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Note: landlocked
@Kyrgyzstan:People
Population: 4,769,877 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (female 868,108; male 888,479)
15-64 years: 57% (female 1,377,221; male 1,345,990)
65 years and over: 6% (female 185,807; male 104,272) (July 1995 est.)