The population of Kyrgyzstan was 5,264,000 according to the July 2005 census and 4,896,100 according to the census of 1999. The Kyrgyzstan population is mainly comprised of three ethnic groups, namely the Kyrgyz,the Russians and the Uzbek population.
Due to its topography the country is very much split into the northern and t southern part. In the north of the country, there are big valleys like the Chui-valley (where the capital Bishkek is situated), and the Talas-valley, as well as the lake Issyk-Kul The Kyrgyz also call the lake "Blue Pearl of the Tien-Shan" or "Sea of the Kyrgyz".
Water is a defining feature of Kyrgyzstan. In winter it freezes on glaciers and buries the land deep in snow. In summer it melts into cascading streams, tumbling waterfalls and ferocious torrents which carve their way through jagged cliffs and rocky gorges.