Presentation about Kyrgyzstan for US students of the University of Clemson, South Carolina, during an exchange visit organized by the American Councils. Empower Access Program, April-May 2013.

1. KYRGYZ REPUBLIC –
THE COUNTRY OF
THOUSAND LAKES AND
MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS
IN THE HEART OF
CENTRAL ASIA
and 2 run-away presidents
By Azat Israilov

2. General info
 Slightly smaller than South Dakota.
 Over 90% are mountains.
 Kyrgyzstan - for 70 years was a part of the
Soviet Union - declared independence in
1991.
 Population – over 5 million (roughly the
same as in Colorado state).
 See Wikipedia for more info.

3. General information

4. Several studies point out that Kyrgyz and Native Americans
had general roots – they both originate in Siberia (Russia).
Native Americans came from Siberia about 15,000 years ago.
Kyrgyz = Americans?

5. Kyrgyzstan is the only country among 15 ex-Soviet countries
and Eastern Europe (and most likely in Eurasia) that made 2
presidents run away in 2005 and then in 2010 during popular
uprisings
Democratic

6. 94% of Kyrgyzstan territory are mountains.
That provides many opportunities for climbing, trekking and
skiing surrounded by untouched nature.
Mountains

7. Kyrgyzstan is the only country in Central Asia (and among ex-Soviet
countries) to host a US military base since 2001 which was opened
right after the 9/11 events to start military operations in Afghanistan.
US Military Base

8. Being illegal, Ala kachuu or Bride kidnapping occurs primarily in rural
areas, is an accepted and common way of taking a wife
There are about 14,000 bride kidnappings every year; two thirds are
non-consensual.
Ala Kachuu (to take and flee)

9. Manas epic is the biggest epic literature in the world which was
transferred orally down through generations for over 1000
years. It will take half a year to read it.
Epic

10. KG has the world's largest natural-growth walnut forest.
Walnut Forest

11. kok-boru – “blue wolf” in the Kyrgyz language – a popular horse game in
which two teams of riders face off in a field and attempt to carry a goat or
calf carcass into the opposing team’s end zone.
Kok-boru

12. It is the second-largest alpine lake in the world after Lake
Titicaca in South America. Issyk Kul being surrounded by high
mountains never freezes during cold winters.
Issyk Kul lake

13. Coming from a poor, single mother family Atay (now 23) went
to final rounds of 3 format talent shows, and in 2011 in Chech
Republic he won and got 130,000 USD for the best robot
dance performance.
Atay Omurzakov
SeeAtayOmurzakov
onYoutube

14. Links
 Kyrgyz = Americans?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2172522/The-First-Americans-
 Mountains
http://russiantraveling.com/2012/08/the-incredible-mountain-ranges-of-kyrgyz
 Ala kachuu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ala_kachuu
 US military base http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_Center_at_Manas
 Walnut forest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arslanbob
 Issyk Kul lake http://diesel.elcat.kg/index.php?showtopic=3680070
 Atay Omurzakov
http://www.rferl.org/content/atai_omurzakov_wins_big_in_czech_talent_
show/24405033.html
 10 facts about KG http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/cheat-sheet-
kyrgyzstan-10-things-know-398420

15. American blog about KG
 Read Dennis Keen blog about his recent
experience in Kyrgyzstan. It’s very interesting
and entertaining.
 http://keenonkyrgyzstan.com/