Global - Technology - Review

The landlocked nation of Kyrgyzstan has suffered inter-ethnic tension and political assassination in the years since the break-up of the Soviet Union. There have been calls for UN intervention. The country has no oil reserves, though the mountainous terrain means that hydroelectricity can be exported. There are also some minerals in the plains, including gold and uranium. Issyk-Kul Lake in the mountainous north east of the country is slightly saline, and in Soviet times there were hotels and sanatoria on its shores. Attempts are being made to revive tourism, including trekking in the mountains. The Kyrgyz people were semi-nomadic herders, living in round tents or yurts, and this lifestyle has not entirely died out. Agricultural techniques are still basic, with horses used for ploughing and transport. Horses have always been a part of the Kyrgyz culture. Ulak Tartish is a traditional equestrian game in which competitors attempt to grab the carcase of a goat from opponents. There is a tradition of epic poetry and also of falconry: hunting with trained hawks. Many people still wear the Kalpak, a tall hat made of sheepskin. The capital, Bishkek, is attractively situated at the foot of the Tian Shan mountain range.