Why Study Kyrgyz? Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic and formerly known as Kirghizia, is a country located in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest, and China to the east. Kyrgyzstan’s natural beauty is an increasingly large tourist attraction in the region. Its plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities of hydroelectric energy.
Knowing Kyrgyz opens one to the rich history and culture of the Kyrgyz people. It can also provide an edge in applying for graduate fellowships at the State Department, the CIA, and the FBI, not to mention international business and law opportunities.