The Telegraph includes Kyrgyzstan in list of 12 countries you must visit
Kyrgyzstan was included in the list of 12 countries that must be visited at least once in life, The Telegraph reported.++
The rating, published in the edition, was drawn up by a Norwegian traveler Gunnar Garfors, who visited 198 countries of the world by the time he turned 37 years old.
The first place he gave to Romania, known particularly as the birthplace of Count Dracula - Transylvania. The second and third place take Madagascar with its lemurs and baobabs, and "unreal" Iceland. Vietnam, where the traveler met a "real friendliness", is on the 4th place.
Kyrgyzstan joined the top 5 for "stunning nature, colorful markets and very friendly people." Expert of the edition estimated the republic as "a rugged country," where "horseback riders" still live.
The list of unusual countries, noted by the traveler, includes Kiribati, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, the Dominican Republic, Norway and Uruguay. Each of these places amazed Garfors by a unique landscape, a unique flavor and people, or both at once.
Kyrgyzstan is situated among the famous Tian Shan mountains, 95 percent of the republic's territory is occupied by mountains. The country is known for the unique mountain Issyk-Kul lake, which is called the Kyrgyz Sea. It is located at an altitude of 1609 meters above sea level and is surrounded by ridges of the Northern Tien Shan. "Issyk-Kul" means "warm lake". It got its name because water there never freezes. Issyk-Kul is included in 25 largest lakes in the world by area. Its length from west to east is 182 kilometers, from north to south - 58 km. The average depth is 278 meters, the largest is about 700 meters. The lake water is salty, mineralized, has healing qualities.