Webcams showing Kyrgyzstan

Countries don’t come much more landlocked than Kyrgyzstan. This country, which spreads over seventy-seven thousand square miles, is not only bordered by China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, but is about as mountainous as it gets. The vast majority of Kyrgyzstan’s terrains are covered by the rugged and almost inaccessible peaks of the Tian Shan mountain range. The highest peak of which, Jengish Chocusu, is located on the country’s border with China.

While the capital, Bishkek, is a relatively modern city, it’s home to less than ten percent of the country’s population. As rugged a landscape that Kyrgyzstan has, over seven million people have managed to find a space, somewhere, that’s level enough to build their houses or in many cases their yurts on. The nomadic culture still plays just as important a role in daily life here as it did when Kyrgyzstan was an important stop-off point and trading post on the Silk Road.