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Bishkek

Capital of KyrgyzstanClose to the Kazakhstan border, in the far north of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek stands at about 800 m above sea level. The Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range rises just to the south, and gently rolling steppe stretches north into Kazakhstan.

Why it's the capital

Bishkek began as a caravan stop on a branch of the Silk Road, and in 1825 the Khan of Kokand built a mud fort called Pishpek here. In 1925 the town became the capital of the new Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Oblast, and in 1926 the capital of the Kirghiz ASSR.

Fun facts

  1. The name is said to come from the paddle used to churn fermenting milk.
  2. From 1926 to 1991 the city was called Frunze, after the Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze, who was born there.
  3. Most streets are lined on both sides by narrow irrigation channels that water the shade trees.

Finding it on the globe

Look at the northern edge of Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek is about 190 km west of Almaty, the big city just across the border in Kazakhstan.

Sources: Wikipedia: Bishkek