Q 01/05

What is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan?

A) Jalal-Abad

B) Bishkek

C) Osh

D) Karakol

Answer · why

B) Bishkek

Bishkek lies in the Chüy Valley near the Kazakh border; it was called Pishpek until 1926 and carried a Soviet-era name until independence.

Q 02/05

From 1926 to 1991 Kyrgyzstan's capital was named after which Bolshevik military leader born there?

A) Semyon Budyonny

B) Kliment Voroshilov

C) Leon Trotsky

D) Mikhail Frunze

Answer · why

D) Mikhail Frunze

Mikhail Frunze, born in Pishpek in 1885, commanded the Red Army's Turkestan Front in 1919-20; the city bore his name from 1926 until independence.

Q 03/05

Roughly what share of Kyrgyzstan is covered by the Tian Shan mountains?

A) About 55%

B) About 40%

C) About 65%

D) Over 80%

Answer · why

D) Over 80%

The terrain has earned it the nickname "the Switzerland of Central Asia"; less than 8% of the land is cultivated.

Q 04/05

Which Kyrgyz lake is the second-largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca?

A) Issyk-Kul

B) Chatyr-Kul

C) Song-Kul

D) Sary-Chelek

Answer · why

A) Issyk-Kul

Issyk-Kul spans about 6,200 square kilometres in the Tian Shan, second among mountain lakes only to Titicaca, and reaches a depth of about 668 m.

Q 05/05

The name Issyk-Kul translates as what?

A) Hot Lake

B) Deep Lake

C) Holy Lake

D) Blue Lake

Answer · why

A) Hot Lake

The Kyrgyz name means 'Hot Lake': although it lies at 1,607 m and winters are harsh, the lake's salinity and depth keep it from freezing over.